The dismantling of a 28-ton cocaine trafficking network, led by Albanian nationals and operating on a global scale, should have been a triumph for Albania’s justice system. Yet the uncomfortable truth is that this success was imported. It was European law enforcement — from Belgium to Italy — armed with …

Amid the summer heat, political developments in the region are also simmering, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

In an interview with BIRN, economist Arben Malaj said the Albanian government’s high-profile crackdown on unregulated small businesses will backfire on the Albanian economy. Original post Here

Tirana, August 5, 2025 — The Albanian government’s draft for a new Penal Code, presented in late July 2025, has ignited fierce debate across the political spectrum, the legal community, civil society, and international observers. Critics argue that the draft contains authoritarian-style restrictions on free speech while inexplicably reducing sentences …

Tirana , August 5, 2025– Allegations that Albania’s ruling Socialist Party is attempting to influence the final report of the OSCE’s election observation mission have sparked controversy in the wake of the country’s most disputed parliamentary elections in over a decade. The May 11th vote handed Prime Minister Edi Rama’s …

Albanian authorities have bulldozed dozens of illegally built holiday cabins in the picturesque mountain village of Theth, but critics say the state shares the blame for unlawful construction in protected areas. Original post Here

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

Flashbacks from old habits, past failures, challenges and interventions are what link our selection of Premium stories together this week. Original post Here

Head of cybercrime directorate says computer fraud and related offences – often for the purpose of financial gain – are the main cybercrimes committed in Albania. Original post Here

More than three decades since communism fell in Albania, only six per cent of former political prisoners or their family members have received the full compensation they are entitled to. Original post Here