Albania
Hackers revealed citizens’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Prime Minister Rama stated that the country is free from Russian gas-related influence, and President Begaj praised the Kosovo-Serbia Free Movement agreement. The “Homeland Justice” Hacker Group published seven files containing PII, including name, last name, and personal identity card number. Rama said, “We don’t need Russian gas. Our energy production is water-based. We are in the heart of the EU.” Begaj noted, “This is in the best interest of all citizens.”
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Customer Price Inflation (CPI) at 16.7% year-over-year in July, Serb Presidency member Dodik called for Republika Srpska’s independence again, and US Ambassador Michael Murphy vowed to help the country confront the Russian influence. CPI was 15.8% in June. Dodik said, “I’m constantly searching for a constellation of relations that might coincide in the world, in Europe, in America, at the same moment I will declare independence if that happens.” Murphy stated that the US and its European allies would protect the country’s “territorial integrity, sovereignty and security, and multiethnic character.”
Croatia
German Chancellor Scholz supported the country’s Schengen membership aspiration, non-central government sector loans increased by 8.7% year-over-year in July, and Prime Minister Plenkovic stated the Parliament would never ratify the arbitration ruling on the border dispute with Slovenia. Scholz noted that the country fulfills the technical requirements for full membership. The Central Bank stated that the loans reached 34 billion euros ($34 billion). Plenkovic noted that as far as the Government is concerned, the ruling “does not exist.”
Kosovo
Reciprocal ID acceptance agreement reached with Serbia, energy crisis deepened as only one block of A Thermal Power plant is operational, and Czech EU Presidency would push for Kosovo visa liberalization. Holders of Kosovo IDs now enter Serbia without additional documents. The current production of 120 Mega Watts per hour is insufficient to supply even the capital of Pristina. The Czech Ambassador Ivana Hlavsová noted, “This country was given conditions and met them several years ago, as confirmed by the European Commission at the time.”
Montenegro
A Cuba Ransomware Group claimed an attack on the Government, Prime Minister Abazovic hosted a dinner for the Serbian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Porfirije, and Democratic Front’s leader Mandic called for a technical government formation that will prepare for the elections. The Cuba ransomware usually deploys the Hancitor malware downloader in email-based attack campaigns. The dinner was also attended by Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Minister of Justice Marko Kovac, and the Prime Minister’s advisor for legal issues, Ivo Soc. Mandic sent an invitation for a meeting to the 2020 Parliamentary elections winning parties leaders.
North Macedonia
Foreign Minister Osmani stated that the Government seeks a way to include Bulgarians in the Constitution, domestic industrial Producer Price Index (PPI) growth accelerated to 24.8% year-over-year in July, and President Pendarovski met the German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Roth. Osmani stated, “We have political-party resistance, but the months will serve us that these constitutional changes will strengthen Macedonia.” PPI in June was 21.9%. Pendarovski praised bilateral relations with Germany and expressed gratitude for the EU accession support.
Serbia
President Vucic stated that the East and the West wage proxy war over Serbia, LGBT rights activists condemned Vucic’s decision to ban the Belgrade Pride Parade, and disclaimers on the administrative crossing Bujanovac state that the recent ID acceptance agreement does not prejudice Kosovo’s independence. Vucic inferred that some anti-LGBT “Save Serbia” protestors that took Belgrade streets might be President Putin’s supporters. The Belgrade Pride organizers tweeted, “Cancelled? No! #EuroPride2022 is from 12-18 September and on Saturday September 17th we WILL march with @belgradepride.” The Government’s agreement acceptance “allowing the use of identity cards issued by Pristina is being done to facilitate freedom of movement.”