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Albanian Court Upholds Detention of Tirana Mayor Amid Corruption Investigation

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania Venesday March 12th—A special appeals court in Albania has upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, rejecting his request for a more lenient security measure. The ruling, reaffirmed on Monday by Judge Engert Pëllumbi, has sparked significant controversy, with Veliaj’s legal team and …

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EU’s Democratic Blind Spot in the Balkans

By Genc Pollo The European Union’s stance on democracy in the Balkans is increasingly difficult to defend. The recent visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to Albania is a glaring example of Brussels’ selective engagement, where stability appears to take precedence over genuine democratic governance. Despite mounting evidence of …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 17, 2025

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

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Albania Appeal Court Orders Tirana Mayor to Stay in Custody

Appeals court dismisses plea to release the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, who is in detention as charges of corruption and money laundering are investigated. Original post Here

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Communist-Era Bunkers Leave Lasting Mark on Albania’s Landscape

Albania’s communist-era military bunkers – now a tourist attraction but also a reource for experimental artists – are dotted everywhere, from beaches to mountain tops. Original post Here

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Sweden Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Accession Amid Geopolitical Shifts

By Lutfi Dervishi Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of Albania’s European Union accession, citing the importance of enlargement in the wake of geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister for European Union Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Jessica Rosencrantz, who vizited today  (March 10th) Albania,highlighted Sweden’s commitment to a merit-based …

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Ollga Plumbi – The Woman from the Future

By  Valentina Leskaj   Ollga, the woman with deep black eyes, who appears so elegant in an old photograph wearing a hat, often comes to my mind whenever we discuss the Women’s Movement. Her portrait, as she spoke to me in that simple but beautiful house on Rruga e Kavajës, …

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Behind Albania’s Forest Crisis: Governance, Economy, and EU Accession

This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations   The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain.  In these past 25 years, however, they have been …

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Promoting women’s leadership and participation in the next political elections is key for Albania  

By: Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator        Michele Ribotta, Chair of UN Gender Group   Tirana, 8 March 2025 The general elections of May 11, 2025,are an important opportunity to strengthen democracy in Albania and consolidate past achievements in advancing women’s leadership in decision-making. While Albania has made …

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Albanian Government Shuts Down TikTok, Opposition and Experts Call It Censorship

The Albanian government announced on Wednesday a one-year suspension of the social media platform TikTok, arguing that the measure is necessary to protect children and enhance online security. However, the opposition and independent experts have labeled the decision as an act of censorship that could impact the electoral campaign planned …