Balkan press review

Front page: "Russia is no longer my country", words of exiles in Serbia

Demonstration in solidarity with Ukraine against the Russian invasion, in the streets of Belgrade, March 6, 2022. © AP/Marko Drobnjakovic

Text by: Courrier des Balkans Follow |

Simon Rico Follow |

Philippe Bertinchamps

3 mins

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Their number is impossible to determine, but

thousands of Russians have been flocking to Belgrade

since the start of the invasion of Ukraine.

For them, it is often a departure without return.

Serbia is indeed the only country in Europe to still maintain flights with Russia, and Russian nationals do not need a visa.

Air Serbia, however, announced a reduction in its flights to Moscow

following pressure from the European Union and a series of false bomb threats.

In the Balkans,

the Orthodox Churches find themselves in a delicate position

.

All condemn the war in Ukraine, but some hesitate to explicitly denounce Russian aggression, like the Serbian Church, torn between Moscow and kyiv.

As in all NATO countries on the front line,

fear is setting in in Romania

.

Many Romanians are preparing for the worst-case scenario.

The images of the Russian invasion have also awakened sad memories in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As far as France, where many Bosnians have fled the fighting of 1992-95.

Amra Alilović arrived in the Lyon region at this time.

Today, she demonstrates again for peace, with her daughter.

Testimony

.

In Croatia, the fall of a Soviet-made drone in the capital Zagreb has caused much ink to flow in recent days.

But apart from the fact that the airspace of several NATO countries has been violated, the mystery remains almost complete.

The Kremlin oligarchs have also invested heavily in the country in recent years: corruption for energy control, financing of the far right or real estate investments.

Survey

.

Prices are soaring, anger is brewing

The war in Ukraine is already having concrete economic repercussions in the Balkans.

In Albania, the price of petrol has risen by 30%, exceeding 2 euros per litre.

Daily demonstrations take place to demand emergency measures while the average salary barely reaches 350 euros per month.

The government, already weakened by corruption scandals, has announced emergency measures, but

the anger has not subsided

.

For its part,

neighboring North Macedonia is also trying to cope

: the government very quickly proposed an aid plan to support the most precarious.

Meanwhile in Kosovo, the sovereignist leftist government

is fighting against “artificial” inflation

.

Large retailers are trying to take advantage of the panic caused by the war and the prices of basic necessities have risen sharply without justification.

Ukraine, a very political issue

The war in Ukraine is making headlines around the world.

But in Serbia, in the middle of the campaign for the partial legislative, presidential and municipal elections on April 3,

Ukraine is a word that is embarrassing

.

Candidates and parties avoid this highly controversial subject, while Belgrade weaves between Moscow and the European Union.

Slovenia is also preparing for elections scheduled for 24 April.

And the ultra-conservative Prime Minister Janez Janša

poses as a warlord to crush his rivals

.

By insisting on the myth of his resistance in 1991 against the Yugoslav army.

In Bulgaria, General Atanas Atanasov, who chairs the Committee on Internal Security in Parliament, has serious doubts about the information provided by the Bulgarian intelligence services to the government, particularly on Ukraine.

Until wondering

if they are not rolling for Russia

.

Also in Bulgaria, the news came as a surprise: 

former Prime Minister Boïko Borissov was arrested

as part of an anti-corruption operation led by the European prosecutor's office.

In Serbia, sport goes beyond the pitch

In Serbia, they represent a large electoral reserve.

The hooligans can - if necessary - ensure the base works of the regime...

The rivalry between the supporters of the two flagship clubs of the Serbian capital

, the Red Star and Partizan, goes beyond the fields and finds itself at the heart of a game to be able well beyond the sporting framework alone.

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