Balkan press review

In the spotlight: in Transnistria, the dictatorship on the move

A border guard between Transistria and Ukraine, in September 2021. © AFP/Sergei Gapon

Text by: Courrier des Balkans Follow |

Florentin Cassonnet

4 mins

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In eastern Moldova, on the border with Ukraine, the separatist province of Transnistria is seeking to isolate itself a little more from the rest of the world.

Supported by Russia, but recognized by no state,

.

Last decision taken by the “Supreme Soviet”: any citizen who appeals to an international or Moldovan court to defend his rights will be liable to 10 years in prison.

These are fewer remedies for kidnappings and illegal detentions of which ordinary citizens and political opponents are victims.

The paramilitary group Wagner has recruited thousands of mercenaries to fight in Syria, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan, Mozambique... They are mostly Russian, but there are also at least fifteen other nationalities , including Moldovans.

Who are these men?

What led them to get involved?

.

Turkey plays balancing act between Russia and NATO

Turkey has long been a fervent supporter of NATO enlargement, but is now vetoing the entry of Finland and Sweden.

President Erdoğan does not want to alienate Russia and seeks to take advantage of this leverage, against the background of widespread anti-Western feelings in the country.

.

More and more exiles are trying to enter Greece, both by sea and in the border region of the Evros river.

Criticized for its illegal pushbacks, Athens accuses Turkey of using "the migratory weapon"... The refugees are once again

 and some die there.

In Serbia, Russian soft power goes through Gazprom

Sports clubs, cultural events, the Saint Sava Cathedral construction site, not forgetting Emir Kusturica's Kustendorf festival... In Serbia, the influence of the Russian giant Gazprom extends far beyond the energy sector.

An

that worries the European Union.

Serbia will continue to receive Russian gas at a very favorable price

and the agreement will be signed for three years, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced after a phone call with Vladimir Putin – the first since the invasion of Ukraine.

Serbia depends mainly on Russia in the energy sector.

For Russia, the challenge is to "treat" one of the last countries in Europe not to deny its friendship with Vladimir Putin's regime.

EU: social dumping and overexploitation for Romanian truck drivers

Most international road transport in the European Union is provided by hundreds of thousands of truck drivers from Eastern Europe, Poland, Lithuania and Romania in the lead.

Less expensive than their counterparts in the West, they allow transporters to operate at lower costs and greater profits, but work in conditions that sometimes border on “modern slavery”.

.

In a document made public on 20 May, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts recommends that Croatia " 

" for the European integration of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, and to these countries to " 

 " if they want to join the EU.

Bosnia and Herzegovina should, for example, recognize a Croatian “

” and Serbia renounce the “

 ”.

The process of a country joining the EU is usually an opportunity for neighboring countries that are already members to 

.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina,

, with the approach of the general elections in October: Denis Bećirović is supported by a coalition of seven opposition parties determined to defend the unity of the country.

The UN General Assembly has declared June 16 "International Day of Family Remittances", to pay tribute to the more than 200 million migrant workers worldwide who send money to more than 800 million members of their family.

In Kosovo, emigration remains at a high level and

, amounting to 18% of GDP.

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