Serbia

Miroslav Kurak, the former state security agent tried in absentia for the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, has reportedly reappeared in Belgrade. After years of absence supposedly spent hunting in Africa, his return was marked by a collision in a Mercedes G-Class in the Karaburma district. It is a striking return to the capital for a man long considered beyond the reach of the Serbian courts.

Election week has descended into a row over airtime and credentials. The N1 network refused to host President Aleksandar Vučić for a campaign slot, prompting the government to label the decision fascist; the SNS has not said if it will send a substitute. Meanwhile, columns of students from Novi Sad are marching on Belgrade to join a final rally. Support has come from abroad, with basketball coach Saša Đorđević sending a message from Istanbul suggesting the students deserve more than the generations that came before them.

The campaign's fairness remains a matter of interpretation. Monitoring by BIRODI suggests national broadcasters have functioned largely as a promotional arm for the ruling list. Elsewhere, the film industry has filed a criminal complaint against the culture minister, Nikola Selaković, alleging his actions have caused material damage to the sector.