Page 56 - bne IntelliNews monthly magazine December 2023

56 I Southeast Europe bne December 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned Russia may destabilise Moldova and the Balkans at a press conference with African journalists. / Ukrainian presidency
undermine the situation in Moldova.
To show that something was wrong there during the elections. To recognise the elections as unconstitutional. To again demolish the current government. To demolish the government that is pro- European," he said.
Part of Moldova's territory, Transnistria, is controlled by pro-Russian separatists, though both Chisinau and the breakaway regime in Tiraspol have sought to keep the country calm and avoid Moldova being dragged into the war in neighbouring Ukraine. There is also a pro-Russian government in the autonomous Gagauzia region.
The ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won the recent local elections in Moldova, after having successfully secured EU candidate status for the country in 2022, though it did less well in major cities.
Recently, the Shor Party – the vehicle of fugitive politician Ilan Shor, suspected of being backed by Moscow – was banned in Moldova. This was followed up by bans on parties launched by ex-Shor Party politicians.
Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik said on November 15 that he sees himself as the first president of independent Republika Srpska in 2030, sparking a fresh political scandal in the country.
Politicians from Republika Srpska have repeatedly defied the authority of both state-level institutions and the international community’s high representative in Bosnia.
There is another volatile situation in northern Kosovo, where there have been several violent clashes this year, including a gun battle between a group of armed Serbs and Kosovan law enforcers.
Turning to Moldova, Zelenskyy raised concerns about Russia's alleged efforts to undermine the situation in the country.
"Moldova. Now they are starting to
Rights report means Turkey’s EU bid will stay in deep freeze
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The European Commission has accused Turkey of "serious backsliding" on democratic standards, the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence. Turkey’s application to join the EU has been in the deep freeze for several years. This report means it will stay there.
The heavy criticism is included in the Commission's annual report on Turkey's EU membership bid. The assessment also includes a rebuke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for referring to Palestinian militant group Hamas as a “liberation” movement. The EU, it said, was in “complete
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disagreement” with Turkey’s stance on Hamas.
In the report, released on November 9, the EU’s executive arm chastises Ankara for not complying with the principles
of the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms in fights against adversaries Turkey has identified as
terrorist. "Anti-terror measures need to be proportionate," the report said.
The report also pointed to unaddressed deficiencies in Turkey's judicial system.
"The lack of objective, merit-based, uniform, and pre-established criteria for recruiting and promoting judges
“The lack of objective, merit-based, uniform, and pre-established criteria for recruiting and promoting judges and prosecutors remains
a source of concern”