Latest News from Montenegro
Balkan States Linked to Russian Money-Laundering Scheme
Media reports about the massive money-laundering scheme which siphoned $20.8 billion (19.2 billion euros) from 19 Russian banks have named Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Romania and Bosnia and Herzegovina among the countries where suspicious financial transactions took place.
Montenegro Probes Controversial Saudi Arms Sales
Montenegro's special prosecution for organised crime and corruption is probing the exports of the Montenegro Defence Industry's, MDI, the country's main arms trader deals since 2011, including alleged trading with Libya, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, BIRN has learned.
US Senator Accused of Blocking Montenegro's NATO Bid
Republican senator Rand Paul was accused by John McCain on Wednesday of being pro-Russian after he blocked the passage of a treaty in the US Senate that would allow Montenegro to move forward towards NATO membership.
Montenegro Denies Russian Rocker Escaped from Jail
Montenegro's Justice Ministry has dismissed stories posted on social media by controversial Russian heavy metal bandleader Sergey 'Pauk' Troitsky claiming that he escaped from a jail in Podgorica.
Trotsky, who leads the group Korrozia Mettala, wrote on Facebook on March 6 that he escaped from "a secret underground prison" in Montenegro.
Serbian PM Joins Bosnia Summit After Genocide Case Row
Vucic is attending the summit of leaders from the Western Balkans in Sarajevo on Thursday despite the row over the failed attempt by Bosniak politicians to seek a review of the International Court of Justice ruling and despite rumours spread by Serbian media of a potential security risk.
Djukanovic Says Russia Wants To Destroy EU
A former prime minister of Montenegro has appealed to the European Union to curb Russia's "destructive" influence in the Balkans.
Milo Djukanovic made the statement on March 14, several months after what prosecutors said was an attempted coup to overthrow Montenegro's pro-Western government and prevent the country joining NATO.
Pro-Erdogan Turks Hold Anti-EU Protest in Sarajevo
Several dozen people protested in Sarajevo's Bascarsija district on Sunday to express anger about bans in several EU states on rallies in support of a referendum in Turkey on whether to give the president more powers.
President of Kosovo Threatens to Quit
Kosovo's president said on Friday he would resign and force a parliamentary election if lawmakers do not approve changes that would effectively create a national army under a plan opposed by the country's ethnic Serb minority and its NATO and U.S allies, according to Reuters.
ID Delays Leave Bosnian Sailors Stranded
Bosnian sailors and shipping crews have been hit by delays in procedures within the country's bodies for issuing identity documents.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs, the ministry responsible for issuing shipping and maritime ID booklets, has been unable to produce them while regulations and a contract for the booklets were still being coordinated.
McAllister regrets Serbia is ignoring anti-Russia sanctions
"The European Union needs to be more visible in the western Balkans to counter Russian attempts to destabilize the region," says David McAllister.
This member of European Parliament (MEP) - EP's rapporteur for Serbia and chair of the body's Foreign Affairs Committee - also said that geopolitics "has returned" to the Balkans, the Guardian is reporting on its website.
Top MEP Tells EU to Counter Russia in Balkans
Ahead of an important summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday - probably the last to take place before Britain invokes the Article 50 mechanism for leaving the EU - David McAllister, German MEP and leader of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the EU to do more to counter Russian influence in the Balkans.
Johnson: Montenegro Shows Russia is 'Undermining' Balkans
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said events last October in Montenegro - where the government says it forestalled a Russian-organized coup - show the Kremlin is busy "undermining" governments in the Balkans and elsewhere.
Mogherini Urges Kosovo To Ratify Montenegro Border Agreement
EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini has urged Kosovo's political opposition to ratify a border-demarcation agreement with Montenegro, the last remaining hurdle before it can benefit from visa-free travel to Europe's Schengen zone, RFE/RL reports.
Mogherini on March 4 met with senior officials in Kosovo's capital, Pristina — the last stop on her tour of the Western Balkans.
Montenegro Asks Moscow to Help With Coup Probe
Montenegrin Justice Minister Zoran Pazin said on Friday that Montenegro had asked Moscow to allow its the special prosecutor to examine two Russian nationals suspected of having played a leading role in last October's alleged coup.
Serbian Radical MPs Boo EU Foreign Policy Chief
Mogherini delivered a speech to parliament in Belgrade on Friday despite booing by the MPs from the Serbian Radical Party who shouted: "Serbia, Russia, we don't need the EU."
MPs from the far-right Dveri members meanwhile held up posters with the slogans: "Serbia doesn't believe in Brussels."
Mogherini however encouraged Serbian lawmakers to continue pursuing EU membership.