CEE crime, spy and somewhat appalling politics roundup (Feb. 9, 2024)

That’s right, the crime, spy and somewhat appalling politics roundup is back. And there is much to share. Worrying news, bad news, appalling news, it’s all here (with just a touch of much-needed sarcasm), but on a side note, Yours Truly also nailed his fight picks, and yes, there will be more of those in the future as well.

Otherwise, off we go.

Albania

Yes, it’s been a big crime week for Albania, with fugitives and drug busts galore—and more. First, both locally and internationally, with the VOA, as well as multiple other regional networks noted that the US Prism Group, a legally registered US lobbying group, has signed a contract with former Deputy Prime Minister Arben A. and his significant other, Erjoja H., reportedly for EUR 150,000, apparently to argue on  Arben A.’s behalf, as he is currently a fugitive, likely now in Switzerland, who is suspected by Albanian prosecutors of corrupt activities and money laundering.

Elsewhere, Ecuador has reportedly broken the back of a key Albanian mafia group that specialized in transporting cocaine from that country to Europe in banana shipments. Some 30 gang members have been detained—12 residing in Spain–and further charges are pending. The gang was headed by the notorious Dritan G., and at least one murder is linked to the investigation. Gang members were rounded up in close to 60 simultaneous raids in Ecuador and Spain.  So yes, those were ripe bananas. Ripe bananas indeed.

This week Belgian police also arrested Albanian Daniel K.—not to be confused with the Irish Daniel K.—on the back of both a narco and murder investigation tied to the ECC Sky encryption breakthroughs that have collapsed a wide variety of European cocaine gangs over the past year. A court case linked to the Daniel K. network is ongoing that involves some 128 suspects. Meanwhile further arrests are ongoing. And what was the standard modus operandi for the gang? I.e. was cocaine typically smuggled in bananas. Nope. Fruit juice.

Bulgaria

In one of the week’s hottest spy stories, the Bulgarian National Security Agency (SANS) detained an officer from the Bulgarian Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP), as reported by the Novinite news website. SANS Deputy Director Patar Petrov stated that the GDBOP officer had been, however, in contact with a SANS officer, and sensitive information may well have or were in danger of being leaked to Russia. Worse, the detained officer had a long history working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and with various crime fighting units in Bulgaria.

Spanish police did not simply pick on Albanians this week, as they also reportedly busted Bulgarian members of a “large criminal network,” that specialized in high-end car theft, according to the Center for Corruption and Organized Crime Research (OCCRP). The gang targeted vehicles that could be resold for some EUR 350,000 and was armed with sophisticated technology that enabled the theft of such a car in “under a minute.”

Which is impressive no matter how you look at it.

Evil, but impressive.

Latvia

Reports out of Latvia have interestingly confirmed what many have previously believed to be mythical tales (even when clients were told the same by Yours Truly) of AI being used to instantly translate and even adopt accents to commit fraud. According to a Latvian Public Broadcasting report, fraudsters have managed to use real AI in real time, citing a case when an employee for mobile operator Bite faced just this type of threat. Bite customers have also complained on this point and Latvia Public Broadcasting cited a cybersecurity expert who stated that soon it will be “nearly impossible to recognize these types of calls.”

Yikes. And just think. A bit more work and voice recognition will be out the window as well.

Brave new world.

On what some (in a certain age bracket) may consider a more ominous note, Latvia has now re-introduced compulsory military service over Russian invasion worries. This is hard-core conscription for men between 18 and 27 and is arguably (emphasis on the word “arguably”) a precedent for other European countries who are mulling the same. Here it should be noted that Latvia is currently the first and only EU member to reintroduce conscription—although this depends on just how it is defined, as Poland, for example, has mandatory registration with the military for males turning 20 years old, although this is not actual conscription. That said, in the past the Polish armed forces are modelled on a professional army, persons with special skills may be conscripted (although the military has more than once stated that this option will be minimally used). Still, 2023 polls have stated that approximately 50 percent of Poles would like to be a return to mandatory military service… so maybe Latvia is setting precedents after all.

But hold the phones… as some may argue the above, the law goes as follows:

According to the  Legal Acts Journal of Laws Journal of Laws 1950.6.46 Universal military obligation act of February 4, 1950 on universal military obligation, Art. 9 1. Male Polish citizens (regardless of nationality) between the ages of 18 and 50 are subject to general military obligation, and men holding the rank of officer up to and including colonel are subject to general military obligation until the age of 60, and generals (admirals) – up to and including 65 years of age. According to Art. 13, registration begins at 18, and the “draft” section of the law technically enables the Ministry of Defense to enact conscription… basically all year long.

Which is not surprising, but hey, eat your heart out Latvia.

Poland

Yes, Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News commentor (who also happens to be former Daily Caller, former MSNBC, former PBS and former CNN—but hey, really does kind of belong on Fox News) did the semi-unthinkable and interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin, giving the Russian president a news platform to the naughty-naughty finger wags of all “reputable channels.” These channels then took the high road by stating that they did try to interview Putin, but were denied the opportunity and then by repeating all relevant points in said interview… but hey, who is Yours Truly to criticize, as there were thought-provoking answers here, including a Putin statement that Russia has “no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else.

“Why would we do that,” Putin continued. “We simply don’t have an interest. It’s just threat mongering. It’s absolutely out of the question.”

Putin also added that he could only see a conflict if Poland “attacked Russia.”

Ok.

Not that we don’t believe you, but if I were in Latvia (or anywhere else in the Baltics) or in… Moldova, I might find it hard to sleep at night.

Not that I sleep much at night, but you know what I mean.

Meanwhile, newly elected and veteran Prime Minister Donald Tusk has cried “shame” on US Republicans for mixing border security with aid for Ukraine at the same time that Polish farmers are again blockading Ukraine’s border, when his government is likely considering new bans on Ukrainian agro products (according to Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski), which was supposedly a problem that would be solved with the ouster of Law and Justice (PiS).

Of course, there is only irony if you see it.

Serbia

The EU (led by Germany, primarily) has long bashed Serbia for a host of policies, including alignment with Russian policy, a refusal to join in on sanctions against Russia over Ukraine (which in real terms is somewhat ironic) and, most of all, Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo as an independent state. More recently, there was the bizarre militia raid in Banjska in Kosovo that ended in a night-long gunfight in the monastery there—and even more recently were dispute elections, especially in Serbia, that drew condemnation from the OSCE and Western governments.

Yet there is a flip-side—this coming (again) in the form of the government of Kosovo and Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The US and even EU negotiators have expressed frustration with Kurti and his at times obstinate refusal to move forward in small steps on the Kosovo question. True, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has often played the hard-line, but he has also at least acted as if he was willing to make small compromises (at least for a Western audience).

And while it is hard to give Vucic the benefit of the doubt, Kurti appears to also have worn out his welcome. The latest move? A decision to disallow foreign currency in Kosovo. And obviously this means Serbian dinars and it’s directed (as have been so many such moves) against ethnic Serbs. Meanwhile the government also shut down local Serbian-run institutions, and this follows a refusal to re-run controversial elections that saw ethnic Albanians take over city administration posts (yes, mayoral posts) in ethnic-Serb dominated districts of North Kosovo and even more recently a refusal to allow ethnic Serbs to vote at OSCE voting booths in Kosovo for Serbian elections.

Which means it’s been one-thing after another… and yep, it’s been on purpose.

Not that Vucic or his minions have been the light at the end of the tunnel, but this is 2024. A Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) for ethnic Serbs (who were indeed harassed, jailed and yes, sometimes murdered following the war in Kosovo) was brokered by the US and Brussels and agreed upon by Serbia AND Kosovo in 2013. And Kosovo has never allowed anything of the kind ever since.

So yes, it takes two (at least) to create true regional instability. Time to call it like it is.

Slovakia

The Slovaks are getting restless again—as is rather typical following the ultra-quick honeymoons afforded to “new” prime ministers in that country. Of course, Robert Fico hardly new, and privately there are pundits wondering just when (and not if) the next scandal hits. In the meantime, Fico has irritated the EU by resisting aid to Ukraine (and ruling out military aid) in very Orbanesque fashion. But he has also been behind various bills geared to 1) reign back statute of limitations for white-collar crime and 2) get rid of the Special Prosecutor’s Office entirely. Which is not a surprise, as there are… infamous MPs in Smer that have been charged with serious corruption.

But even if there weren’t. This is SMER. Is this really the party that needs to “reform” the criminal code when it comes to corruption?

We thinks not.

Ukraine

The long awaited dismissal/resignation of Ukrainian Chief of Staff (and very popular among Ukrainians, all things considered) Valery Zaluzhny finally happened—and yes, this is big news. So much so that The Economist called the dismissal itself a “crucial new phase in the war.” He has been replaced by Oleksandr Syrsky as the commander of his armed forces, and that’s that. Only The Economist is also right that this is a decision that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may well have gotten wrong. Yes, the offensive gained nothing. Yes, Russia has been on the offensive, burning through troops and equipment, but also making gains that continue to this day, with the Kupiansk region under pressure and Avdiivka all but lost. But Zaluzhny’s sin? Primarily, he spoke truth to power by saying that there can be no true offensives in the new age of drones, as both sides see everything the other side is attempting. Oh—and that little bit about abandoning US tactics, which were 1) getting all his men killed 2) were based on ignoring miles wide and deep minefields 3) predicated on air support and equipment that he did not have and… 4) getting all of his men killed.

Now Zelensky (and to be fair, he has also been dealt very short hands and has been desperate to show success in hopes of getting US cash) may be in a bottle. Key political players such as the Klitschkos are unhappy; the endless rocket attacks across the country seem to never end and not only men but ammunition are in short supply. It is what it is, and it’s not pretty—and Zaluzhny is no fall guy.

And if Europe is not hanging on the edge of its seat going into spring… it should be.

Stay tuned for next week. On the slate is the Polish police blotter, the Ukrainian war update and yes… more fight picks.

Stay on the right side of evil, and have a great weekend.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.