Calin Georgescu to run for President of Romania

Romanian police seized weapons and large sums of money in the investigation against pro-Russian former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. 25 kg of gold, more than 3.3 million dollars, 43 000 euros and other currencies were found in a cache.

Georgescu won the first round of Romania's presidential elections on November 24, but the Constitutional Court annulled the elections due to irregularities in campaign financing and suspicions of foreign interference.

The raids are connected to suspicions of actions against the constitutional order and the creation of a fascist-type organization. Georgescu was detained, questioned, and released. Upon leaving the General Prosecutor's Office, the politician stated that he would "definitely" run in the presidential elections in the spring, AGERPRES reported.

 Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik sentenced to one year in prison 

Republika Srpska sent an invitation for talks on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, announced the leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Milorad Dodik, as reported by RTRS. This came after Republika Srpska President Dodik was sentenced to a year in prison and banned from politics for six years for separatist activities, BTA reported.

The verdict came after a year-long trial of Dodik on charges that he failed to obey the top international envoy overseeing the peace process in the Balkan country.

The authorities in Banja Luka claim that top international envoy is illegal, do not recognize the authority of the institutions in Sarajevo, and threaten to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan tells group to lay down arms

Imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan has called on the members of the banned Kurdish group to lay down arms and dissolve the organisation for good. Öcalan made this statement to a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party who visited him in prison, where he is serving a life sentence for terrorism. PKK has been waging an armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1984 and is recognized as a terrorist organization by Ankara, the EU, and the US.

If PKK disbands, peace could be expected in Turkiye's eastern provinces, said Efkan Ala, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party, TRT reported.

Pentagon denies U.S. withdrawal from Alexandroupolis military facility

U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied reports that Washington is preparing to close its military facility in Alexandroupolis, reported kathimerini.gr.
Earlier, the newspaper Dimokratia reported that that the decision of the United States to end its military presence in Alexandroupolis came after a joint request from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Alexandroupolis has become a strategic port and transport hub for the U.S. and NATO in Southeastern Europe.

Murriz Tunnel in Albania to open for traffic on March 14

The Murriz Tunnel in Albania, part of Arbri Road, will be open to traffic. This will allow travel from Albania’s capital Tirana to the border with North Macedonia near Debar in less than an hour, reported BGNES. The official ceremony will take place on March 14. The highway reduces the distance to North Macedonia from 180 km to 74 km.

"This highway will bring Tirana and all of Albania closer to North Macedonia. It will promote economic development and tourism. This road axis will be the shortest route connecting Tirana with Debar, Tetovo, and Skopje, making it an international connecting road", said Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

The Murriz Tunnel is about 3.8 km long. The highway has 7 tunnels with a total length of 8.5 km, as well as 4 bridges, one of which is the highest in the Balkans, rising to 158 meters.