Freedom House Highlights Threats to Balkan Democracies

US-based watchdog Freedom House's annual 'Freedom in the World' report, published on Thursday, identified Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Serbia as free countries, but Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro as only 'partly free'.

"Fair election processes and the rule of law further deteriorated as the EU neglected its role in promoting democracy among aspiring member states," the Freedom House report said.

"While there might have been deference to EU norms in the past, leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia harassed civil society critics, obstructed investigations of government wrongdoing and ignored constitutional procedures," it added.

The report also expressed concerns that progress towards democratic standards in some Balkan countries was being replaced by a "toxic mix of nationalism, corruption, governmental dysfunction, and Russian interference".

It further warned that there could be a further spread of so-called "illiberal democracy" in the Balkan region.

Kosovo was ranked the least free country in the region, with Freedom House giving it a score of 52 out of a possible 100, and drawing attention to deficiencies with political rights and civil liberties.

Freedom House gave Bosnia and Herzegovina a score of 55, citing a decline in civil liberties "due to officials' failure to comply with constitutional court decisions, including one prohibiting a referendum in the Republika Srpska".

Macedonia was given a score of 57, while Albania was given 68 and Montenegro 69.

Serbia was scored at 76 but Freedom House warned that the situation in the country had deteriorated. 

"Serbia's political rights rating declined due to irregularities in the 2016 parliamentary...