Latest from Ingrid Gercama
Belgium’s Broken Prisons
Belgium’s prisons are in crisis. Hard-line policies, crumbling infrastructure and staff shortages have made them overcrowded holding pens — not just for criminals but for the poor, the undocumented and the mentally ill. The crisis continues despite civil society efforts, guards-turned-whistleblowers, extreme violence exposed on TikTok and government promises.
Serbia’s Anti-Corruption Protests Are Making History
Serbian students have occupied university buildings and staged protests since November, demanding transparency, accountability and an end to corruption after a deadly train station collapse. Their leaderless movement has sparked nationwide demonstrations for democratic reform, in contrast to authoritarian trends across Europe and the U.S.
Serbia’s Curious Polygraph Craze
As Serbia grapples with one of the most significant organized crime problems in Europe, politicians are turning a craze for polygraph testing to their own advantage. With a weak legal system and using state-controlled media, they hope to clear their name in the court of public opinion.
In Albania, Keeping Big Cats Is the Latest Fad for Organized Crime
Though private ownership of big cats is illegal in the Balkans, activists and veterinarians struggle to intervene because powerful criminal networks protect those involved in this lucrative trade. Wildlife experts now worry that the exotic animal black market could spiral out of control and spread across Europe.