In the News: State of emergency in the Balkans against coronavirus

Text by: Laurent Geslin | Mail from the Balkans

A press review presented in partnership with Le Courrier des Balkans.

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After having remained relatively distant from the epidemic for a long time, the Balkans are now hit hard by the spread of the Covid-19. Authorities from different countries in the region have implemented containment measures everywhere and national borders are now largely closed.

►The Balkans facing the coronary artery epidemic
►Bosnia and Herzegovina : Republika Srpska quarantines the diaspora
►Coronavirus : Slovenia stopped, Prime Minister increases his salary

As everywhere in the world, the region's economy is beginning to suffer the consequences of the crisis, particularly in the tourism and culture sectors, the first directly impacted. And some companies are seeing their order books empty, particularly in automotive subcontracting.

►North Macedonia : will the tourism sector resist the Covid-19 ?
►Coronavirus : economic disaster in sight in Bosnia and Herzegovina
►Balkans : culture, suspended during the epidemic, surely sacrificed after

Shortage of equipment, shortage of respirators, nursing staff bled by the exodus, return of thousands of Romanians from Italy. It is with a poor health system that Romania sees the epidemic coming. 72 medical staff at Suceava hospital have already been infected due to lack of protection. At this rate, everything could very quickly implode.

►Covid-19 in Romania : can the health system cope with the epidemic ?

Arrests of Internet users, public disclosure of identities, surveillance and tracking of citizens. The establishment of the state of emergency and containment measures have given the Balkan governments additional tools to control information and the population. Overview.

►Coronavirus in the Balkans: informing when public freedoms are restricted

The Moria refugee camp on the island of Lesbos in Greece is a time bomb. While confinement has been decreed by the Greek authorities to slow the spread of Covid-19, more than 20,000 people crowd in makeshift tents, without water, soap and sometimes without electricity. Fear lurks and violence is inevitable. Report.

►Greece : the hell of Moria camp faced with the threat of the coronavirus

In this gloomy context, it is a decision that should give a little balm to the hearts of the populations of Albania and North Macedonia: the Twenty-Seven have just given their agreement to the opening of accession negotiations with Tirana and Skopje.

►European integration: green light to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia

A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Zagreb on Sunday March 22 at 6:23 a.m., followed by several aftershocks over the following days. The material damage is significant, while the city is in containment. Injuries have been reported and a young girl has died. The testimony of our correspondent.

►Croatia : strong earthquake in Zagreb
►Croatia : a Sunday in Zagreb, or when an earthquake hits a city in confinement

The government of Kosovo led by Albin Kurti was overthrown Wednesday March 25 by a vote of no confidence of the Parliament, by 82 votes for, 32 against and one abstention. The country is plunged into a serious political crisis, while the coronavirus epidemic is spreading rapidly.

►Kurti government censorship, Kosovo plunges into crisis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity has tripled worldwide since the 1980s and North Macedonia is not immune to this serious public health problem. Without the authorities taking any measure to try to change the eating habits of the population.

►North Macedonia : more and more overweight young people

The fire at Club Colectiv on October 31, 2015 killed 65 people. Documentary filmmaker Alexander Nanau looks back at the authorities' handling of the crisis and their lies, which cost dozens of lives. A film that takes on its full meaning during the Covid-19 epidemic.

►Romania : Colectiv, the drama that recalls how state lies can kill

With 25 victims per year, Greece is the first country in the European Union (EU) in terms of deaths and injuries caused by accidents on the railways. The cause: poor infrastructure, dangerous level crossings, failures in the traffic regulation system and understaffed rail companies.

►Greece: fatal railways

For several years now, Serbian Miloš Biković has established himself as one of the most popular actors in Russian cinema. The latter does not miss an opportunity to defend "Slavic values" and the alliance between Serbia and Russia. In 2018, Vladimir Putin awarded him the Pushkin medal for his " contribution to culture and the rapprochement of nations ". Portrait.

►Cinema : Serbian actor Miloš Biković, the new darling of the Kremlin

Formerly liberal and rebellious, sparkling with life, culture and impertinence, Novi Sad fell asleep to the point of becoming a nationalist stronghold. Cantor of his city, the writer László Végel questions his never assumed relationship to the past, abandoned like a stinking corpse by the roadside. Interview.

►Serbia: László Végel and the lost identity of Novi Sad

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