The rally held in Tirana on October 13 in front of the Ministry of Education turned into clashes between protesters and police forces. The students are demanding quality public education, better conditions and resignation of premier Rama. Albanian Helsinki Committee and the Association of Albanian Journalists condemn the violence and raise concerns about journalists’ safety

14/10/2026, Erisa Kryeziu  Tirana

In a last-minute twist, Kosovo has elected Justina Shiroka-Pula, formerly head of the Kosovo Academy of Sciences, as its new president. Among her first measures, the green light is expected for new legislation limiting the powers of the special chambers that convicted KLA leaders

09/10/2026, Mehmet Krasniqi  Pristina

On Imvros/Gökçeada, a Turkish island at the mouth of the Dardanelles with a fascinating and complex history, faith, hospitality and history intertwine every 15 August for the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, whilst the island’s Greek community is still trying to understand what it really means to return

09/10/2026, Mary Drosopoulos  Gökçeada

After years of negotiations between Bulgaria and Greece, the remains of the medieval Bulgarian tsar Samuel have been laid to rest in a lavish ceremony in the Bulgarian capital. The agreement marks a strategic rapprochement between Athens and Sofia, including as part of their opposition to Skopje. It has also provided a spectacular backdrop to the opening of Bulgaria’s presidential election campaign

06/10/2026, Francesco Martino  Sofia

Elites in both Kosovo and Serbia avoid raising the issue of cooperation with the other side, because “doing so would amount to admitting that normalization brings benefits rather than mere concessions.” An interview with Bojana Selaković, coordinator of EU Konvent

06/10/2026, Federico Baccini  Bruxelles

A new crackdown on the LGBT+ community is underway in Turkey: in September, the “My Family Is Safe” operation marked a shift from merely blocking public demonstrations to the actual dismantling of the organizational infrastructure that supports the community’s advocacy, legal assistance, and health information services

05/10/2026, Franco Rivera