Serbia’s student-led protests challenging President Vučić’s rule will peak at a major rally in Belgrade on March 15. While pro-government media smear the movement as foreign-funded and anti-Serbian, the anxious regime has deployed special police to raid NGO offices. Meanwhile, Bosnia’s State Court sentenced the president of the Republika Srpska (RS) entity, Milorad Dodik, to a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban on holding public office for obstructing the decisions of the High Representative for Bosnia. In response, RS institutions are proposing legislation to restrict state judicial and police authority in this part of Bosnia.
At this Balkan Breakfast, we will discuss these evolving crises and their potential to drive political change in both countries. Given the new geopolitical context and US-EU split, we will assess the room to maneuver for both strongmen and how they utilize regional crises to stay in power. We will also exchange views on what the EU institutions and the next German government could do to de-escalate the crisis.
Speakers:
Sonja Stojanović Gajić, Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies, University of Rijeka (online)
Adnan Cerimagic, Senior Analyst for the Western Balkans, European Stability Initiative
First Comment:
Niels von Redecker, Head of Division, Western Balkans, German Federal Foreign Office
Moderator:
Nikola Xaviereff, Project Manager/Research Fellow, Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, DGAP
This event is by invitation only. It will be held in English and German under the Chatham House Rule.