Balkans -- News and Features

'Berlin Wall's Lessons For Today'

In an op-ed for "USA Today," Jeffrey Gedmin discusses RFE and the role of free media in societies living under repressive regimes. More

Banja Luka's Autonomy Offensive

Envoys from Bosnia's Serbian entity came to Washington this week to make the case for ending 14 years of international supervision. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Sarajevo and left no doubt where his country stands on the question of closing the Office of the High Representative. More

Karadzic Appointed Counsel, Trial Resumes March 2010

The Yugoslavia war crimes tribunal is appointing legal counsel to represent Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic at his trial, and has adjourned proceedings until March 2010 to give new counsel time to prepare, court judges said. More

Unmasking The Truth About Swine Flu

As concerns over massive outbreaks of swine flu rise in many countries with the onset of the influenza season, doctors say much is misunderstood about how people contract the disease. We speak to experts to learn more, and whether there is any cause for panic. RFE/RL correspondent Charles Recknagel reports. More

In Fear Of The Flu

Public fears of a major outbreak of swine flu are growing in countries from Ukraine to Afghanistan. What is not clear is how many cases are actually the dreaded H1N1 strain, and whether fears of a pandemic are justified. More

Former Bosnian Commander Arrested For War Crimes

Bosnian police have arrested a Muslim former deputy army commander suspected of killing more than 20 Croatian civilians and prisoners of war during the 1993 Muslim-Croat war, the state prosecutor's office said. More

Karadzic Makes Appearance At War Crimes Tribunal

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has appeared for an administrative hearing in his war crimes trial, temporarily giving up his boycott to ask for more time to prepare his case. More

Looking For A Monster, Finding Only A Man

Gordana Knezevic, director of RFE/RL's Balkan Service, was a journalist in Sarajevo during the bloody 43-month siege of the city. She remembers life during the war and her struggle to understand the motivations fueling Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. More