Balkan Lies IV
Vučić Dismisses the Mayor of Preševo
Explanatory fact: Shqiprim Arifi, the mayor of Preševo, was dismissed by the decision of the Serbian government, not by President Aleksandar Vučić. The Serbian government is responsible for announcing local elections and dissolving the local parliamentary assembly. After new elections were announced for Belgrade and other municipalities, Shqiprim Arifi was one of the officials who lost his position following the dissolution of the municipal parliamentary assembly.
87 Albanian Mercenaries Killed in Ukraine
Explanatory fact: The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reports that there is no official information on any Albanian nationals killed in the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Chances of Republika Srpska Joining Serbia Soon Are Zero
Explanatory fact: Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state that does not function in its current format, which was established by the Dayton Agreement in 1995 and practically divided the country into two parts, the only way it could secede is by changing this agreement with the approval of Western powers, which is unlikely to happen at least in the near future.
Mayor of Haraçina Injured in Assassination Attempt
Explanatory fact: The claim has been refuted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia. In an announcement posted on Facebook on April 1st, the Ministry clarified that the Mayor of the Municipality was not injured.
Gabriel Escobar Dismissed from His Role as U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans
Explanatory fact: Several portals reported in early May that U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar had been dismissed from his role as Special Envoy for the Western Balkans due to a conflict of interest that compromised his neutrality as a mediator in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. The U.S. Department of State refuted this claim, clarifying that Escobar had not been dismissed but would be transferred in the coming weeks to another position within the U.S. diplomatic service.
NATO Has Not Sent Troops to Fight in Ukraine
Explanatory fact: The assistance that NATO has provided to Ukraine since the onset of the war by Russia has often been misinterpreted in the media as active participation in the war through military troops. In fact, a NATO official informed Faktoje that the alliance “has no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.”
