Arrest of former President Ilir Meta on corruption allegations sends second key opposition leader into detention
TIRANA, Oct. 21, 2024 – The arrest on Monday of former President Ilir Meta, who now heads the opposition Freedom Party, on orders of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has sent shockwaves through Albania’s political landscape. Meta faces allegations of corruption, money laundering and asset concealment, …
Albania’s Ex-President Ilir Meta Arrested on Corruption Charges
Former President Ilir Meta, now leader of the opposition Freedom Party, was arrested on charges of corruption, money-laundering and non-declaration of assets. Original post Here
Italian Court Rules Migrants Shipped to Albania Must Be Sent Back
A Rome court dealt a blow to a controversial scheme to send migrants intercepted at sea by Italy to Albania, ruling that the first 12 migrants who were transported to an Albanian reception camp this week must be returned. Original post Here
Albanians Scent Profit in Italy’s Costly Offshore Migrant Processing Plan
An Italian opposition MP has lambasted the start of the scheme to process migrants in Albania as a fiasco – but locals living near the new facilities are eying up potential economic benefits. Original post Here
Albania Opposition MPs Claim Police Threatened Them in Parliament With Guns
After opposition MPs continued their protest in parliament on Thursday, clashing with the police and parliamentary guards, they claimed ‘armed persons threatened the deputies with weapons’. Original post Here
Italian ship brings first migrants to Albania-based camp under controversial asylum-processing deal
TIRANA, Oct. 16, 2024 – An Italian military ship carrying the first group of migrants arrived in the Albanian port of Shëngjin early Wednesday, marking the launch of a controversial project to process Italian asylum applications on Albanian soil, drawing much international attention. The initiative is part of a bilateral …
Could Michigan’s Albanian-Americans Swing the Vote for Trump?
Albanian-American supporters of Donald Trump are campaigning hard in the swing state of Michigan, where their numbers could sway the result. But some fear the return of Trump’s controversial Balkan envoy Richard Grenell. Original post Here
Albanian Environmentalists See Red Over Green Sludge Coating Tirana’s Lake
The main artificial lake in the capital has been covered for weeks by thick green algae, which environmental activists blame on untreated urban sewage flowing into the water. Original post Here
First Italian Ship With Refugees Arrives in Albania
The first Italian ship holding 16 refugees intercepted at sea arrived in Albania early on Wednesday, as Italy’s controversial plan to ‘offshore’ the processing of migrants and refugees got underway. Original post Here
Moldova Should Learn from Albania’s Mistakes in Justice Reform
As EU hopeful Moldova embarks on a complex process of judicial reform and vetting to root out corruption, experts advise it to note what has gone right – and wrong – in Albania, which began the same process a decade ago. Original post Here