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‘Brother, Tiger!’ SMS Exchanges Reveal Disgraced Albanian Politician’s Ties to Fugitive Businessman

Data from the investigation file obtained by BIRN shows Albania’s former Deputy PM Arben Ahmetaj – charged with corruption and money laundering – had a close relationship with Mirel Mërtiri, a controversial businessman now on the run, at least since 2012. Original post Here

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Former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj leaves Albania ahead of approval of arrest request on corruption charges

TIRANA, July 12, 2023 – Representatives of the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition in the Council of Mandates of Albania’s parliament reached an agreement on Wednesday to open the way for the Special Prosecutor’s request to arrest former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj on corruption charges.  However, the Socialists …

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AIIS hosts Foreign Policy Forum with UAE Ambassador

TIRANA – On July 6, 2023, the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) organized its signature Foreign Policy Forum welcoming as a keynote speaker H.E. Sulaiman Hamed Salem Almazroui, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Hellenic Republic and nonresident ambassador to Albania.  The forum, entitled “The UAE between the …

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Attack on former prosecutor Arjan Ndoja, the Court leaves in prison Ramazan Rraja

The Special Court has rejected Ramazan Rraja’s request for a change in the security measure and has not change the meausure the arrest and imprisonment decision. Rraja was arrested as the person who provided the conditions for the assassination of former prosecutor Arjan Ndoja and for carrying weapons without a …

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Rama meets Macron in Vilnius, President of France is preparing to come in Tirana

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a photo where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Vilnius, Lithuania. He says that the French president is preparing to come to Tirana, as part of the Albania, as a NATO member country, has proven its commitment and seriousness, taking concrete steps to …

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Korca’s teachers haven’t been paid for work in June

About 200 teachers in Korca and Maliq have not yet received their salary for the month of June.  According to the head of the Education Union in Korça, the reason for the delay is the treasury, which has not yet disbursed the salaries. According to him, there are also teachers …

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Albania Pressed to Act Over Currency’s Unexplained Rise

The rapid rise in the value of Albania’s currency, the lek, is alarming exporters and tourist operators – but the government is unwilling to take action. Original post Here

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Under Spain’s EU Presidency, the Issue of the Western Balkans Will Be Sidelined

Spain’s 6-month presidency of the Council of the EU has been upended by a snap election in July. Yet regardless of who wins that vote, prospects for progress on the issue of EU enlargement are poor. Original post Here

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A 31-year-old thief arrested in Tirana

A 31-year-old man from Kamza was arrested on charges of theft this Wednesday. He was put in handcuffs, as it is suspected that on July 10 he stole work tools in two different businesses. In the meantime, the young man is expected to be interrogated about the motives that led …

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Arrested for abuse of duty, former mayor of Durres will appear at court on July 18

The former mayor of Durres Vangjush Dako, arrested for abuse of duty, will appear in front of the Court of Special Appeal on July 18 at 10 am. The appeal session will be reviewed by Judge Daniela Shirka. Dako was arrested on June 6 by order of the Special Prosecutor’s …