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Convicted in absentia for drug production and sale, a 35-year-old man was arrested in Shkoder

A 35-year-old man was arrested in Shkodër as part of the police operation codenamed “Temple 2”. His arrest was carried out after on April 22, 2024, the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Shkoder assigned the security measure “Arrest in prison”, for the criminal offense “Production and …

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Two arrested for sports betting

Two people were arrested in a bar in Laç, after placing sports bets with mobile phones. A 34-year-old man and a 41-year-old man were arrested. As material evidence, 2 mobile phones of these citizens were seized. The procedural materials were passed to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First …

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SPAK denies the decision of GJKKO for Alqi Bllako and Lefter Koka

The Special Prosecutor’s Office disputes the innocence of Alqi Bllakos for the Elbasan incinerator and the dropping of the charge of abuse of office against the former Minister of the Environment Lefter Koka, as the latter was only convicted of corruption. SPAK requests in the Special Appeal the punishment of …

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A 65-year-old wanted man is arrested, he killed a pedestrian in an accident in 2014

A 65-year-old man, who was wanted, was arrested in Elbasan as part of the coded police operation “Rule of Law”. In 2014, the 65-year-old, while driving the truck on the “Bilisht-Korçë” road, collided with a vehicle and a pedestrian lost his life in the collision. The 65-year-old was sentenced in …

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Veliaj meets with the mayor of Athens Haris Doukas

The mayor of Tirana met Haris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, at the start of the B40 panel. He said that the two capitals will continue to nurture an excellent relationship between them. Veliaj writes on Facebook: “With Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, before the launch of the B40 panel”. …

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Court releases the four protesters arrested after protest at Tirana Municipality

The Tirana court has released the four people arrested after the protest of Reestablishment and the Freedom Party in front of the Tirana City Hall at noon on April 19. ABC News journalist, Ervin Leka reports that the court has set for the four people, the security measure “obligation to …

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Drunk and without a license, 28 arrested in one week

28 drivers have been arrested while 32 driving licenses have been suspended during the last week for violating traffic rules. As a result, 28 drivers were arrested, 19 of them for driving while intoxicated and 9 for driving without a license. The police also say that 32 driving licenses have …

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Former MP, Ralf Gjoni in SPAK to testify for Meta

The former deputy of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Ralf Gjoni, was questioned on Monday for about 4 hours by the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Previously, Ralf Gjoni held the position of secretary for foreign relations in LSI, as well as being part of Ilir Mete’s staff when the latter held …

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Two arrested for distribution of drugs in Saranda

The police in Saranda have arrested two people as part of operations “Strike 11” and “Strike 12” for the crackdown on illegal possession of weapons and the distribution of narcotics. During the “Strike 11” operation, in Saranda, a 35-year-old man with a criminal record in the field of narcotics was …

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16 drivers arrested in a week, over 12 thousand fines for various violations

The Traffic Police in Tirana has published the balance sheet of a week, in relation to the administrative measures and arrestimey made in the context of road traffic violations. From April 14-20, the police arrested 16 people for several violations, where: 6 people arrested in the act for drunk driving, …

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EU Enlargement Report Criticises Serbia, Hails Montenegro’s Progress

Tough European Commission report takes Serbian democratic backsliding to task – while saying Montenegro will probably be the first among the current candidate countries to join the EU. Original post Here

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Oligarchy, Governance, and Justice in the Eyes of Citizens’ Expectations

By Zef Preçi The recent decision of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption (SPAK) to formally indict Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku on charges related to abuse of office and corruption has sent shockwaves through the political establishment. Balluku widely regarded as the government’s second-in-command and …

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Drug Shortages, Delays and Debts: Breast Cancer Treatment in Albania

Delays and drug shortages in the public healthcare system force hundreds of Albanian women every year to seek expensive, private treatment for breast cancer. Original post Here

News
The Sound of Freedom: Why MTV was Beloved in the Balkans

MTV is shutting down its European music video channels, which were once symbols of freedom for many young people in the Balkans and the former Eastern Bloc. Lida Hujic had a front-row seat when the channel was at its peak. Original post Here

News
Fatos Nano, Albania’s Reformist Prime Minister, Dies at 73

Tirana, October 31, 2025  Former Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, the reformist leader who transformed the country’s Communist Party into a modern European-style Socialist Party and who steered Albania through several of its most turbulent post-communist years, has died at the age of 73. Nano  a figure at once admired, …

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Constitutional Court Overturns Dismissal: Veliaj Formally Reinstated as Tirana Mayor

Tirana November 3,2025 The Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of Erion Veliaj, annulling the government’s decision to dismiss him from office and invalidating President Bajram Begaj’s decree for early elections in Tirana. With a 5–3 vote, the Court decided that Veliaj  who has been in pre-trial detention for nine …

News
Albania Constitutional Court Overturns Decision Sacking Tirana Mayor

Country’s top court rules in favour of ousted Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj regarding his dismissal – also cancelling fresh elections for a replacement for Veliaj, who is facing corruption charges. Original post Here

News
Commemorating the Restoration of China’s Legitimate Seat at the United Nations, Preserving and Advancing the Traditional China–Albania Friendship

— Article by the Chinese Ambassador to Albania, Pang Chunxue On 25 October 1971, at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly, Resolution 2758 was adopted by an overwhelming majority, restoring all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations and recognizing the representatives …

News
US Academic Challenges National Narratives with Study of Race in Albania

In her new book based on her travels in Albania, Black American academic Chelsi West Ohueri looks at how people in the country see race and ethnicity – and the racial divides between Albanians and the marginalised Roma minority. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: November 3, 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

News

EU Enlargement Report Criticises Serbia, Hails Montenegro’s Progress

Tough European Commission report takes Serbian democratic backsliding to task – while saying Montenegro will probably be the first among the current candidate countries to join the EU. Original post Here

News

Oligarchy, Governance, and Justice in the Eyes of Citizens’ Expectations

By Zef Preçi The recent decision of Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption (SPAK) to formally indict Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku on charges related to abuse of office and corruption has sent shockwaves through the political establishment. Balluku widely regarded as the government’s second-in-command and …

News

Drug Shortages, Delays and Debts: Breast Cancer Treatment in Albania

Delays and drug shortages in the public healthcare system force hundreds of Albanian women every year to seek expensive, private treatment for breast cancer. Original post Here

News

The Sound of Freedom: Why MTV was Beloved in the Balkans

MTV is shutting down its European music video channels, which were once symbols of freedom for many young people in the Balkans and the former Eastern Bloc. Lida Hujic had a front-row seat when the channel was at its peak. Original post Here

News

Fatos Nano, Albania’s Reformist Prime Minister, Dies at 73

Tirana, October 31, 2025  Former Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano, the reformist leader who transformed the country’s Communist Party into a modern European-style Socialist Party and who steered Albania through several of its most turbulent post-communist years, has died at the age of 73. Nano  a figure at once admired, …

News

Constitutional Court Overturns Dismissal: Veliaj Formally Reinstated as Tirana Mayor

Tirana November 3,2025 The Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of Erion Veliaj, annulling the government’s decision to dismiss him from office and invalidating President Bajram Begaj’s decree for early elections in Tirana. With a 5–3 vote, the Court decided that Veliaj  who has been in pre-trial detention for nine …

News

Albania Constitutional Court Overturns Decision Sacking Tirana Mayor

Country’s top court rules in favour of ousted Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj regarding his dismissal – also cancelling fresh elections for a replacement for Veliaj, who is facing corruption charges. Original post Here

News

Commemorating the Restoration of China’s Legitimate Seat at the United Nations, Preserving and Advancing the Traditional China–Albania Friendship

— Article by the Chinese Ambassador to Albania, Pang Chunxue On 25 October 1971, at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly, Resolution 2758 was adopted by an overwhelming majority, restoring all the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations and recognizing the representatives …

News

US Academic Challenges National Narratives with Study of Race in Albania

In her new book based on her travels in Albania, Black American academic Chelsi West Ohueri looks at how people in the country see race and ethnicity – and the racial divides between Albanians and the marginalised Roma minority. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: November 3, 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