Balkaninsight.com

Early presidential and parliamentary elections will give Turkey’s next leader new, reinforced executive powers over a politically-divided country that is facing economic and social crisis.

LGBT Pride parades in the Croatian city of Split and the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Saturday drew hundreds to march in defence of their rights.

Marking two decades since the abduction of nine Kosovo Serb miners, the victims’ families and activists called on the authorities to find the perpetrators.

The decision to annul the mayoral election results in the capital has sparked angry protests, caused concern in Brussels – and raised fresh questions about the independence of Moldova’s justice system.

The European Council has told BIRN it has no plans to set up so-called disembarkation platforms for rescued refugees in Albania – as an often xenophobic discussion of the subject continues in the country.

From tolerance during Ottoman times to criminalisation, throughout the 20th century, homosexuality has remained a highly sensitive issue in this Balkan society, a leading activist explains.

Croatian fans in Croatia, Bosnia and Russia partied late into the night, lighting flares and singing songs to celebrate the national team’s 3-0 triumph over football giants Argentina at the World Cup.

Switzerland's Football Federation has denied that Russia asked it to ban fans from flying Greater Albanian or Kosovo flags during Friday's match with Serbia in Kaliningrad, as some Serbian media reported.

A group of locals from Serbia’s second city of Novi Sad is working to maintain the labyrinth of tunnels hidden beneath the riverside Petrovaradin Fortress. BIRN followed them underground.

The summer season is festival time in Kosovo, when towns all over the country lure visitors by putting on films, art exhibitions and workshops - or, as in one case, stage crazy races on the river.

Europol report highlights return of foreign terrorist fighters from conflict areas to the countries of the Western Balkans as a matter of concern.

Ahead of Sunday's meeting between the Kosovo and Serbia Presidents, the two countries are still arguing over the agenda – while Germany has denied seeking Federica Mogherini's replacement as chief negotiator in the process.

Very few ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia will be rooting for the national team in the World Cup – for reasons dictated by past and present conflicts.

High hopes relating to change and the removal of longstanding obstacles to progress in the region inevitably go hand in hand with high fears, as our selection of articles this week shows.

Romania’s Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced Social Democrat Party chief Liviu Dragnea to three-and-a-half years in jail for abuse of office, his second corruption sentence in three years. 

Turkey’s growing political engagement with the Balkans is now matched by a sharp increase in exports to the region – of 22 per cent in first five months of this year.

A leading scientific journal from Zagreb has published a special issue on the controversial killings at Bleiburg in 1945 – aiming to shed light on how this crime has been misused and manipulated in history.

Football's global governing body has fined Serbia for its fans' offensive behaviour during Sunday's World Cup match with Costa Rica.

Romania’s ruling Social Democrats rally against ‘abuse’ was a hypocritical attempt by the party to legitimise its crackdown on the judiciary that revived the style and language of the old communist regime.

The spectacle of Macedonia’s citizens toppling their corrupt government – and then resolving a major historic dispute – justifiably worries entrenched illiberal regimes across the Balkans.