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Serbia Threatens Euro 2024 Exit Over Fan Chants

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Serbia has threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 due to chants between fans during the Croatia-Albania match on Wednesday, where chants about the killing of Serbians were heard during the 2-2 Group B draw. Jovan Surbatovic, the general secretary of the Serbian Football Association, called for severe sanctions from UEFA, stating, “What happened is scandalous and we will ask [European governing body] Uefa for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition.”

Serbia, part of Group C, lost 1-0 to England in their tournament opener on Sunday. Surbatovic expressed confidence that punishments would follow, especially after UEFA revoked the credentials of Kosovar journalist Arlind Sadiku. Sadiku made a provocative double-handed eagle gesture, symbolizing Albania’s national flag, towards Serbian fans during the England game, exacerbating tensions between Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians, predominantly in Kosovo.

Surbatovic demanded that UEFA sanction both federations involved, indicating Serbia’s willingness to reconsider their participation if no actions were taken. The Serbian FA also sent a letter to UEFA’s general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, condemning the “shameful joint chanting.”

The BBC reached out to UEFA for comments on the issue. Serbia was previously fined £12,250 for fan misconduct during the England match, and both Serbia and Albania faced fines for displaying nationalist banners during their opening matches.

Surbatovic claimed, “We were punished for isolated cases and our fans behaved much better than the others,” emphasizing that the actions of a single fan should not tarnish the entire Serbian fanbase. He appealed to Serbian fans to continue demonstrating gentlemanly conduct.

Serbia’s next game is against Slovenia at 14:00 BST on Thursday.

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UN Declares July 11 Day of Remembrance for Srebrenica Massacre

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United Nations member states have voted to declare July 11 an annual day of remembrance for victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, despite opposition from Serbia. The proposal, brought by Germany and Rwanda, aims to establish the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.” While 84 member states voted in favor, there were 19 votes against and 68 abstentions.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic opposed the resolution, claiming it was politically motivated and could unfairly label Serbia and Serbs as collectively responsible for genocide. Vucic warned that this could lead to further resolutions on other genocides, potentially including those against Serbs during WWII by the Nazi-allied regime in Croatia.

The massacre, carried out by Bosnian-Serb forces under the command of Ratko Mladic, resulted in the systematic killing of over eight thousand Bosniak Muslim men and boys. The aftermath involved attempts to hide the scale of the massacre by exhuming and redistributing bodies, complicating identification efforts. The International Commission on Missing Persons used DNA technology to identify over seven thousand victims, praising the UN resolution for its acknowledgment and commemoration.

The resolution explicitly states that genocide convictions are against individuals, not entire ethnic or religious groups. In 2007, the International Court of Justice recognized the massacre as genocide but did not hold Serbia directly responsible, though it criticized Serbia for failing to prevent it. Serbia’s National Assembly condemned the massacre in 2010, and Vucic, as prime minister in 2015, visited Srebrenica to pay respects on the 20th anniversary.

Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska region, and other Serb nationalists deny that genocide occurred, sometimes glorifying Mladic. Dodik threatened secession if the resolution passed but claimed victory after the vote, citing the lack of an absolute majority as evidence of failure to label Serbs as a genocidal nation. His claims, however, serve more as political posturing than an accurate reflection of the resolution’s intent.

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Serbia’s Search: Missing Two-Year-Old Girl Case Grips Nation

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Throughout the day and into the evening, individuals have been laying floral tributes in Bor’s main square, a copper-mining town in eastern Serbia, to honor Danka Ilic, a two-year-old girl who went missing. Alongside handwritten messages are cuddly toys and balloons, with votive candles flickering in remembrance. The mourners, whether local residents or from afar, express condolences to Danka’s family. Her disappearance, the subsequent search, and the tragic confirmation of her death have dominated headlines in Serbia since she vanished while playing at her grandfather’s house ten days ago.

Two men, both aged 50, are now in custody on suspicion of murder. According to police, they admitted to hitting Danka with their car but failed to seek help. Instead, they placed her in the vehicle and drove away. Details of the incident are distressing, with Danka’s father reportedly stopping the men’s car and inquiring about his daughter, unaware that she was inside the vehicle. Authorities are investigating the possibility of Danka surviving the initial impact, as evidence suggests the car was traveling at a low speed. Despite efforts to locate her body, one of the suspects allegedly moved it to another location.

The arrests dashed hopes of finding Danka alive, shifting focus to the grim task of recovering her remains. The case has drawn widespread attention both within Serbia and beyond its borders, with Interpol issuing alerts after a girl resembling Danka was spotted in Vienna. Protests planned in recent days have been called off out of respect for her family. President Aleksandar Vucic denounced those responsible as “monsters” while commending the police and the public for their efforts, emphasizing the resilience and compassion of the Serbian people.

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EU: Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin talks to join bloc

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Bosnia and Herzegovina is set to begin negotiations for EU membership, marking a significant milestone eight years after the formal application was submitted. Following a recommendation from the European Commission last week, EU leaders have approved the initiation of talks. European Council President Charles Michel extended congratulations to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s leaders, affirming their place within the European family. He emphasized the importance of continued efforts for progress, a sentiment echoed by Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who expressed gratitude for achieving the necessary compliance with EU requirements.

The approval for Bosnia’s EU talks has been welcomed as a positive development by leaders across Europe. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hailed it as a good message for the entire region, while Croatia’s Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described it as a historic day for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The road to EU membership has been long for Bosnia, with the country formally obtaining candidate status in 2022 after applying for membership in 2016. In the past year, Bosnia has made strides in passing laws aligned with EU priorities, particularly focusing on areas such as democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and public administration reform.

Despite progress, Bosnia remains ethnically and politically divided, a legacy of the 1992-95 war. Further economic and democratic reforms will be necessary before formal EU accession can occur.

The EU’s commitment to the Western Balkans has been underscored by recent events, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine. Other countries in the region, including Albania, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, are also at various stages of the EU application process.

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Serbian rescue for livestock trapped on island in Danube

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An operation is in progress to rescue around 200 cattle, calves, and horses stranded on Krcedin island in the River Danube, near Belgrade, Serbia. Rising water levels last week prevented the livestock from returning to shore. The evacuation, which began on Tuesday, has saved approximately 60 animals so far. Harsh weather conditions, including freezing temperatures and concerns about starvation, have intensified the urgency of the rescue mission.

Krcedin island, located on the left bank of the Danube, experienced a sudden rise in water levels due to melting snow caused by unseasonably mild weather in late 2023 in the Balkan region. The island is situated 3km from the shore and approximately 50km upstream from Belgrade.

Farmers had been appealing for days to have their livestock rescued as conditions deteriorated. On Tuesday, a rescue team comprising the Serbian military, the emergencies department, the forestry agency, and local citizens used a raft to transfer about 60 animals to safety. However, further attempts faced setbacks, including the replacement of the first raft due to missing railings and the breakdown of its replacement after only two runs.

Environmental group Eko Straza reported that the stranded cattle were exhausted, having lost up to 50kg of their weight. A new boat was hired to continue the rescue on Wednesday. Transporting dozens of wild horses, which are not accustomed to human contact, posed additional challenges.

With freezing conditions and the threat of hunger, speed has become crucial in the evacuation. Cattle breeder Milenko Plavsic expressed concern that some of his animals had already died, and the remaining ones were at risk. He explained that, in a normal year, the animals would return home by wading through shallow waters for 10km, but the high water levels have prevented grazing.

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Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic claims big election victory for ruling party

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has declared victory in snap parliamentary elections, with his Serbian Progressive Party projected to secure almost 47% of the vote, potentially gaining an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Opposition parties, part of the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition, lagged behind with around 23% and alleged electoral fraud in favor of the government, calling for a recount.

While the SPN had hoped to win control of Belgrade in local elections, initial results showed the ruling party slightly ahead in the capital. The SPN claimed electoral fraud, demanding the annulment of the vote in Belgrade and hinting at possible protests. The ruling party has been in power since 2012, and despite opposition efforts, it appears set to maintain control.

Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, faces pressure to normalize relations with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo crossed into Serbia to vote, adding a layer of complexity to the political landscape.

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As tensions rise, Serbia arrests Kosovo police officers

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Kosovo has sought the release of three border patrol personnel, accusing Serbia of ‘kidnapping’ them.

Serbian authorities reported they apprehended three “fully armed” Kosovo police officers near their common border, while Kosovo officials stated the trio was “kidnapped” while patrolling the region.

On Wednesday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti condemned Serbia for the men’s kidnapping and demanded their release. They were apprehended 300 metres (330 yards) inside Kosovan territory near the border, he added.

“The entry of Serbian forces into Kosovo territory is an act of aggression aimed at escalation and destabilisation,” Kurti stated on his Facebook page.

Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla also condemned the “kidnapping,” which he described as “violating any agreement and violating international norms.”

The minister urged the international community to “immediately increase pressure on Serbia not only to release our police officers, but also to cease its provocations.”

However, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the three were apprehended as far as 1.8km (one mile) within Serbian territory, near the town of Gnjilica. Kurti was also accused of encouraging violence, according to him.

“We are at a fork in the road as to whether we will have peace or not… “And there is one man in the Balkans who wants to incite conflict at any cost – Albin Kurti,” Vucic remarked during a live TV broadcast.

He denied that Serbian police had entered Kosovo, claiming, “They did not even set foot there.”

Despite the fact that a NATO bombing operation forced Serbian security forces out of Kosovo in 1999, Belgrade continues to see it as a southern province.

Last month, riots in four primarily Serb communities in northern Kosovo, just outside Serbia, injured 30 NATO forces and 52 Serbs.

It erupted as Serbs protested against ethnic Albanian mayors who took office following a 3.5 percent turnout in a municipal election. The election was boycotted by Serbs in the area.

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Suspect arrested after second mass shooting in Serbia

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A man identified only by his initials has been arrested after a mass shooting in Serbia in which eight people died and 14 were injured. The attacker opened fire from a moving car near a village 60 km south of Belgrade after an argument with a police officer.

The manhunt involved more than 600 police officers, and the suspect was eventually discovered hiding at his grandfather’s house. The shooting followed an attack in which a 13-year-old boy killed nine people at a school in Belgrade.

President Aleksander Vucic pledged a “practical disarmament” of the country, and announced new security measures, including the hiring of 1,200 new police officers, a ban on new gun permits, tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession, and psychological checks of gun owners. Serbia has very strict gun laws, but has one of the highest levels of gun ownership in Europe, with an estimated 39.1 firearms per 100 people.

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Serbia school attack: Silence and teddies at scene of shooting

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The community in central Belgrade is in mourning after the worst school shooting in Serbian history, which took place at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school. A 13-year-old student entered the school armed with two guns and a “kill list”, and killed eight fellow students and a security guard. Six other children remain in hospital.

Mourners are arriving at the school to pay their respects and lay flowers and toys. Students from the neighboring college stood in silence to remember the victims.

A 19-year-old student named Alex Oborina expressed the sentiment that many are feeling, that as a society, they have failed because a 13-year-old should not be able to grab a gun and shoot his friends. He adds that this is probably the worst thing that has ever happened in his life and hopes that they can use this tragedy as a stepping stone to rebuild.

Some are questioning whether the fact that the suspect is only 13 years old will make it harder for Serbian society to come to terms with the school shooting since he is too young to face prosecution. However, one mourner notes that justice would never be served for the parents who lost their children, regardless of the perpetrator’s age.

The motive for the attack is still unclear. Seven of the eight victims who were killed were girls. Mourners are leaving flowers and candles at the site of the shooting, with one mother of two saying that her 10-year-old son asked what would happen if a shooting happened at his school.

She believes that her country needs to look beyond just the actions of one teenager and address issues of violence both online and in real life urgently, as she fears that this tragedy may be the beginning. She adds that they need to take care of their kids and address the problems in their society.

The woman responsible for preventing violence in Serbian classrooms, Milja Krivokuca, says that nothing in the suspect’s school records showed any sign of his capability for such violence. She notes that the most important thing now is to support everyone, stabilize the situation, and retrospectively review if something could have been done differently. Two teacher unions have announced a strike to demand better protection for staff and pupils.

President Aleksandar Vucic has suggested lowering the age of criminal liability from 14 to 12 in response to the tragedy, and Krivokuca agrees with this proposal, stating that it is necessary to secure maximum protection for schools. She suggests that Serbia should compare its legislation with other European countries and beyond where legal responsibility starts at 12 or 10 years old.

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Belgrade shooting: Huge police operation after Serbia school attack

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A shooting at a school in Belgrade, Serbia, resulted in the deaths of at least eight students and a security guard. Six other pupils and a teacher were also injured and taken to the hospital. The suspect, a 14-year-old seventh-grade student, was arrested, and officials claim that he used his father’s gun. The motive behind the attack is currently under investigation.

The police immediately cordoned off the area, and an intensive investigation is underway to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Parents were heard crying in the streets around the school hours after the shooting, with some still unsure if their children were alive. Some of them expressed frustration with the lack of information provided by the police.

Parents of students who were caught up in the shooting pleaded with police officers for any information about their children’s whereabouts, while others frantically called hospitals and doctors in Belgrade. Local media showed images of the suspect, who was handcuffed and had his head covered by a jacket, being led away from the scene by police.

Three pupils who were injured in the shooting were transferred to a local hospital, where two boys were stable but had gunshot wounds to their lower extremities, while a girl had a serious head injury and was undergoing surgery. The teacher who was shot was fighting for his life. The shooting is a rare occurrence in Serbia, which has strict gun laws, but gun ownership is among the highest in Europe.

The western Balkans are flooded with illegal weapons following wars and unrest in the 1990s, and Serbia has the third-highest number of firearms per 100 people in the world.

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