The Balkans

[Pete Dero]

Today in Slovenia, another Balkan country :

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/slovaks-choose-between-pro-russian-ex-pm-fico-and-pro-western-liberals/48851038

Slovaks started voting on Saturday in a parliamentary election closely fought between former leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has pledged to end military aid for neighbouring Ukraine, and pro-Western liberals.

Final opinion polls showed the two parties in dead heat, with the winner expected to get the first chance to try to form a government to replace the caretaker administration running the country of 5.5 million since May.

A government led by Fico would mean Slovakia joining Hungary as EU countries challenging the bloc's consensus on support for Ukraine, just as the European Union looks to keep unity in opposing Russia's invasion.

It would also add to a bloc of eastern ex-Communist states with governments publicly hostile to liberalism, along with Poland's nationalist PiS, which also faces an election next month, though Poland remains pro-Ukrainian.

Fico's pro-Russian views follow moods in Slovak society, traditionally relatively warm on Russia. The sentiment has been amplified by pro-Russian narratives and disinformation on social networks.

[Redwolf]

Serbs that only speak Russian ?  That sounds like some treachery there.  Could Russians be trying to distract nato by purposely flaring up the balkans ?

More likely that the Serbs just got cocky and think they can get away with it right now.

We better hope the Chinese are not thinking along the same lines.

[Gusington]

The Serbs getting cocky...again 

Eastern Europe and the Balkans are one hell of a rough neighborhood.

[Gusington]

.

[Gusington]

Summary here:

[Gusington]

Small update.

[Sir Slash]

Very informative.