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☆ How a Crypto Fugitive Upended the Politics of a Troubled Balkan Nation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Already notorious as an agent of market mayhem, the crypto industry has now unleashed political havoc, too, upending a critical general election in Montenegro, a troubled Balkan nation struggling to shake off the grip of organized crime and the influence of Russia. Only days before a vote on June 11, the political landscape in Montenegro was thrown into disarray by the intervention of Do Kwon, the fugitive head of a failed crypto business whose collapse last year contributed to a $2 trillion crash across the industry. In a handwritten letter sent to the authorities from the Montenegrin jail where he has been held since March, Mr. Kwon claimed that he had “a very successful investment relationship” with the leader of the Europe Now Movement, the election front-runner, and that “friends in the crypto industry” had provided campaign funding in return for pledges of “crypto-friendly policies.”Europe Now had been expected to win a decisive popular mandate in elections for a new Parliament. Its campaign mixed populist promises to raise salaries and pensions with pledges to put the country on a clear path to joining the European Union by cleansing the crime and corruption that flourished under Montenegro’s former longtime leader Milo Djukanovic.

Persons: Kwon, ”, Milo Djukanovic Organizations: Montenegrin, Mr, European Locations: Montenegro, Balkan, Russia, Europe, European Union

☆ Montenegro holds parliamentary vote to secure reforms, EU path
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The parliamentary vote is the first in the small former Yugoslav republic since Milo Djukanovic, former leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), lost the presidential election in April and stepped down after 30 years in power. Polling stations for the 540,000-strong electorate open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT). The state election commission said 15 parties and alliances will compete for 81 parliamentary seats in the nation of just over 620,000 people. Montenegro is a candidate to join the EU, but it must first root out corruption, nepotism and organised crime. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro - unlike Serbia - joined EU sanctions against Moscow.

Persons: Djukanovic, Milo Djukanovic, Jakov Milatovic, Milojko Spajic, Danijel Zivkovic, Zivkovic, Moscow, Aleksandar Vasovic, Stevo, Helen Popper Our Organizations: PODGORICA, NATO, European Union, Democratic Party of Socialists, Centre for Democracy, Human, European, Finance, EU DPS, Russia Democratic Front, Serbian Orthodox, EU, Serbian, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Yugoslav, EU, Montenegro, Serbia, Serbian, Ukraine, Belgrade, Podgorica

☆ How a Cracked Phone App Upended a Crime-Ridden Balkan State
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When police forces in Western Europe cracked ‌‌an encrypted phone app popular with narco-traffickers, the messages they deciphered from the Balkan nation of Montenegro provided shocking evidence of a state captured by crime. A Montenegrin police officer discussed cocaine shipments with a notorious crime boss, and the son of the head of the country’s supreme court offered to skew verdicts and help with smuggling. Another police officer sent photographs to the leader of an organized crime group to show how his police unit had roughed up members of a rival crime gang. Rumors had swirled for years of Mr. Djukanovic’s collusion with criminals, something he has always denied. “It was evident that the institutions were captured by corruption and organized crime,” Mr. Djukanovic’s successor, Jakov Milatovic, 36, said in an interview last month on his first day at work as president in Podgorica, the capital‌.

Persons: Milo Djukanovic, Europe’s, Mr, Djukanovic’s, Jakov Milatovic Locations: Western Europe, Balkan, Montenegro, Montenegrin, Podgorica

☆ Montenegro run-off presidential election under way
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/13] A man prepares to vote at a polling station during the run-off presidential election in Podgorica, Montenegro, April 2, 2023. REUTERS/Marko DjuricaPODGORICA, April 2 (Reuters) - Montenegrins went to the polls on Sunday in a run-off presidential election pitting incumbent Milo Djukanovic against a Western-educated economist pledging to lift the nation out of a crisis marked by no-confidence votes in two governments. He led Montenegro to independence from a state union with much larger Serbia in 2006 and to NATO membership in 2017. Although the presidential post in Montenegro is largely ceremonial, victory in the election would bolster the chances of the winner's party in June. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro joined EU sanctions against Moscow and expelled a number of Russian diplomats.

☆ Montenegro holds run-off presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A child plays with a ball on a street, a day before the second round of presidential elections in Podgorica, Montenegro, April 1, 2023. REUTERS/Marko DjuricaPODGORICA, April 2 (Reuters) - Montenegrins were set to vote in a run-off presidential election on Sunday, pitting long-time incumbent Milo Djukanovic against a Western-educated economist pledging to lift the nation out of a crisis marked by no-confidence votes in two governments. Djukanovic, 61, has dominated Montenegro as president or prime minister for 33 years, since the start of the collapse of the now-defunct federal Yugoslavia. Djukanovic wound up with 35.37% of the vote in the first round of the election on March 19, with Milatovic on 28.92%, necessitating a run-off as neither garnered a 50% majority, and analysts have predicted a tight race in the run-off. Although the presidential post in Montenegro is largely ceremonial, a victory in the election would bolster the chances of the winner's party in June.

☆ Montenegro's ex-Economy Minister Jakov Milatovic declares victory in run-off presidential vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PODGORICA, April 2 (Reuters) - Montenegro's former Economy Minister Jakov Milatovic declared victory in a presidential election run-off on Sunday, ahead of long-standing incumbent Milo Djukanovic. "Tonight is the night we have been waiting for over 30 years and I wish you a happy this victory of all of us," Milatovic told cheering supporters of his right-centrist Europe Now Movement in its party headquarters in Podgorica. "Within the next five years, we will lead Montenegro into the European Union," he said. Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/4] A taxi waits for pedestrians at a street crossing under a pre-election billboard of candidate Jakov Milatovic in Podgorica, Montenegro, March 30, 2023. Montenegro, whose economy relies on tourism generated by its scenic mountains and seaside, ditched a state union with much larger Serbia in 2006 and declared independence. A row between lawmakers and Djukanovic over his refusal to name a new prime minister deepened the political paralysis. "I am here to lead Montenegro to success because for too long we have been led by the unsuccessful," Milatovic told a campaign rally. After the invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro signed up to EU sanctions against Russia.

[1/6] Milo Djukanovic, President of Montenegro and a candidate from the Democratic Party of Socialists, visits a polling station during the presidential elections in Podgorica, Montenegro, March 19, 2023. Milatovic described his result as a victory of "a beautiful, better, just ... and European Montenegro." Djukanovic has served as president or prime minister for 33 years. "We are content with this level of support, it is a good foundation ... that will carry us to the victory in the run-off," Djukanovic said. A victory in the run-off would bolster the chances of his DPS party in the parliamentary vote.

[1/5] Milo Djukanovic, President of Montenegro and a candidate from the Democratic Party of Socialists, speaks to the media at a polling station during the presidential elections in Podgorica, Montenegro, March 19, 2023. REUTERS/Stevo VasiljevicPODGORICA, March 19 (Reuters) - Montenegro's veteran President Milo Djukanovic will face a run-off on April 2 against a pro-Western former economy minister, after no candidate secured a 50% majority in a first round election on Sunday, according to a vote projection. The Center for Monitoring and Research polling group (CEMI) projected Djukanovic would end up with the most votes, with 35.5%, based on results tabulated from a statistical sample of votes cast. Djukanovic has served as president or prime minister for 33 years. A victory in the presidential election would bolster the chances of his DPS party in the parliamentary vote.

☆ Montenegro votes in presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

First unofficial results by pollsters, based on a sample of the electorate, are expected about two hours later. If no candidate secures more than 50% of votes, a second round of voting between the top two is scheduled for April 2. A victory in the presidential election would bolster the chances of the winner's party in the parliamentary vote. Following the invasion of Ukraine last year, Montenegro joined EU sanctions against Russia. The Kremlin has placed Montenegro on its list of unfriendly states.

☆ Montenegro's long-ruling Djukanovic launches bid for third presidential term
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SARAJEVO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro's incumbent president who has held high-ranking political posts in the Adriatic country for the last 30 years, launched his bid on Saturday to run for a third term in a presidential election next month. The office of president is largely ceremonial in Montenegro, but a Djukanovic victory could trigger an early parliamentary election after the presidential vote because he has so far rejected proposed candidates for the prime minister's job. "I am entering the election race with the intention to win quickly and convincingly," Djukanovic, who heads the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), said on Saturday as he submitted his bid with electoral authorities. Opponents accuse Djukanovic and the DPS of corruption, links to organised crime and of running the country of some 620,000 people as their personal fiefdom - charges Djukanovic and his party deny. The state election commission has already approved two other presidential candidates - Andrija Mandic from the ethnic Serb party New Serb Democracy and Draginja Vuksanovic Stankovic of the Social Democratic Party.

☆ Cea mai scumpă autostradă din lume nu duce nicăieri și riscă să bage în faliment o țară din Balcani
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-02 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Sursa foto: sinteza.orgCea mai scumpă autostradă din lume nu duce nicăieri și riscă să bage în faliment o țară din BalcaniO autostradă de 130 km menită să conecteze portul muntenegrean Bar cu granița sârbă, prin tuneluri și viaducte monumentale, a costat până acum Muntenegrul 1 miliard de dolari, bani împrumutați de la China și cheltuiți pe parcursul a șase ani. Muntenegru își construiește prima autostradă, dar în urma unui imens scandal al împrumuturilor, acum a devenit autostrada țării spre iad, scrie Euronews. 40 de poduri și 90 de tunele urmau să fie construite și finanțate de chinezi. Cu toate acestea, proiectul a primit lovitură după lovitură, acuzații de corupție, întârzieri de construcții și tragedii de mediu. „Voi folosi noul drum numai dacă va fi o furtună mare sau o urgență”, conchide el.

Persons: Milo Djukanovic, Zeljko Locations: Balcani, Bar, China, Muntenegru, Muntenegrului, balcanică, Podgorica

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