Balkan watching (catch all)

[OUTLAW 09]

#Macedonia police say armed group are former UCK from Kosovo; lead by Muhamed Krasnici aka Malisheva & Mirsad Ndrecaj aka 'commander NATO'.

FM Ivica Dacic (also presiding over #OSCE): "#Serbia ready to react sharply to any attempt of destabilization" via @TanjugNews

#Macedonia PM Gruevski about the killed policemen: "We lost 8 people, who maybe prevented murder of over 8.000 people." Praises police.

Police spokesman Kotevski:
37 policemen wounded.
30 terrorists apprehended, most of them from #Macedonia, one from #Kosovo.

Ilija Nikolovski, retired general who commanded forces during 2001 Macedonian war, said police were served to terrorists like "fresh meat"

[OUTLAW 09]

@MarQs__ @SrbinSaMarsa looks like Serbian Propaganda

Albanian nationalist call for more attacks on #Macedonia to create new state, Albanian media reports.
#Kumanovo
Via @SrbinSaMarsa

BREAKING: Police release pictures with mugshots #kumanovo. On shoulder of one of armed men you can see Albanian flag. pic.twitter.com/cL2ElQqPsa

Russian trolls of course are also all over #Kumanovo incident: US is behind it... #lol pic.twitter.com/WpEkWXAxvb

Cvetin Chilimanov @Cvetin
#Macedonia Gruevski says police faced an experienced terrorist group, with members who fought in the Balkans, and the Middle East

[OUTLAW 09]

Terrorist leader:"Macedonians are lying! We are not captured.The real war ll start 12 of May!
http://webtribune.rs/voda-terorista-...cinje-12-maja/ …

5 #Kosovo war-veterans masterminded the terror plan in #Macedonia: Mirsad Ndrecaj, Sami Ukshini, Beg Rizaj, Dem Shehu & Krasniqi Malisheva.

Electricity just went off in #Kumanovo
Via @JordanIva

It's been clear for months that a crisis was brewing in Macedonia and that Gruevski would try to retain power. Yet no focus from the EU/US.

Now, even with violence breaking out, the only focus on US media is the easy narrative of return to ethnic violence in the Balkans.

[OUTLAW 09]

"A lot of blood found in houses" says @botasot http://botasot.info/lajme/403565/sa-...e-e-kumanoves/ …

People in #Kumanovo: We lack the basis conditions. Power grid, sanitary sewer and water pipes destroyed.

A resident of 'Lagjja e Trimave', #Kumanovo & a police-man have gone missing 48h ago, without a trace (Koha reports) http://koha.net/?id=27&l=56912

Ramush Haradinaj: I am shocked by the events in #Kumanovo. He says no reason for conflict: "Albania in NATO, Kosovo is independent

It is clear that armed men in #Kumanovo hated Ali Ahmeti, the former commander of UÇK in Macedonia. But when is Ahmeti going to speak?

Commander of armed men #Kumanovo made FB post before attacks: "Ali Ahmeti is a traitor and sold our war" (2001) &"we love death above enemy"

Thomas Moens @TMoens
Serbian tabloid announces that tomorrow the war for Greater Albania will start. - Good thing everybody is keeping calm #Kumanovo

Even disregarding suspicion of direct gov. instigation in #Kumanovo, surely big questions r.e. how ppl and weapons got there in 1st place?

BREAKING: Macedonian gov have not captured Mirsad Ndrecaj, alias "commander NATO". Media claimed that yesterday. Unknown location.

[OUTLAW 09]

Photos of the aftermath of this weekend's battle against gunmen in #Macedonia http://bit.ly/1PdIbtx pic.twitter.com/tO8YwAVzw5

[OUTLAW 09]

Peaceful protest in front of Government #Skopje #Macedonia #protestiram pic.twitter.com/3rUWbKjCNE

From the 28 arrested in #Kumanovo, 11 are from #Macedonia, 16 are from #Kosovo, 1 is from #Albania

Macedonian Police arrest ethnic Albanian Border Guard Arsim Bajrami
Still unclear why (express).

All arrested members of the armed group in #Kumanovo can be found here: http://vincenttriest.nl/2015/05/11/l...s-in-kumanovo/ …

International Community gives strongest message yet to Gov in #Macedonia on the mis/management of wiretapping scandal
http://bit.ly/1ARR4Np

[OUTLAW 09]

New video of Macedonian Police show sniper rifles, heavy machine guns and loads of other weapons. Where did they found this stash? #Kumanovo

Macedonian police post a new video, showing fighting in close combat in #Kumanovo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZu_DEPqxw …

[OUTLAW 09]

Watch now for a Russian informational conflict move to create further tensions in the Balkans--nice start for them today. Things had calmed down thus no need for this Russian Today statement.

Russia is throwing benzine on the fire. @RT_com: "22 People Killed as Macedonian Ethnic Flashpoint Heats Up". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Wy8uafhXk …

Ethnic Albanian minister of Local Administration is visiting #Kumanovo. First ethnic Albanian with a political function visiting city

[OUTLAW 09]

Statement of the UCK about the #Kumanovo attacks. "We are betrayed"http://vincenttriest.nl/2015/05/12/d...ck-12-05-2015/ (Mod's Note: not in English and no translation option given)

Ali Ahmeti about #Kumanovo: "9 and 10 may is not the will of the Albanian nation." First reaction in 3 days since situation in #Macedoni

[OUTLAW 09]

For journalists writing about #Kumanovo. I translated full declaration."We are betrayed, fight goes on"/ Please RT http://vincenttriest.nl/2015/05/12/n...5-12-may-2015/ …

[OUTLAW 09]

Menduh Thai, Albanian leader of opposition party: #Kumanovo, the situation in Macedonia is to worry about

Also Balkanweb is publishing statement of UÇK or NLA. #Kumanovo https://twitter.com/Balkanwebcom/sta...92537891971072 …

Albanian media: "Kosovo Intelligence Service had warned that the Macedonians were trying to recruit Kosovars for criminal acts"

[OUTLAW 09]

Bodies of Mirsad Ndrecaj (Commander NATO) & Beg Rizaj (Comm. Begu) identified among 14 dead of #Kumanovo armed group, (ALSAT)
#Macedonia

Macedonian minister of interior affairs resigns!

[davidbfpo]

At last a decent explanation for what is happening in Macedonia, last week's violence has a very small part to play:https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-eu...nd-way-forward

It starts with:

For nearly two decades, Macedonia has been a pressure cooker of public anger at corruption, deteriorating governance and chronic unemployment. Now the valve has blown. This year, union-organised strikes were followed by student protests against flawed education reforms. Then the opposition party released recordings of conversations that exposed government wire-tapping of more than 20,000 citizens. Quickly dubbed “bombs”, these recordings were released over the last three months by the main opposition party leader at press conferences. On them appear the voices of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, senior officials, journalists, judges and security officials conspiring in electoral and judicial fraud, and organising systemic corruption.