Albania–Kosovo Rift Weakens the Albanian Voice
The Rama–Kurti clash over the war crimes tribunal highlights deeper structural tensions, from unimplemented agreements to competing regional agendas. The latest clash between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo’s Albin Kurti is more than another exchange of political insults. It reflects the fragile state of relations between Albania and …
Tirana Protesters Demand Justice for Kosovo War Leaders
Hundreds of protesters rallied in the Albanian capital on Friday demanding justice for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on trial in The Hague, denouncing the proceedings as an attack on the wartime struggle against Serbian forces. The demonstrators, many waving KLA flags and chanting slogans such as …
Protesters in Albania Demand ‘Justice’ in Kosovo Wartime Leaders’ Trial
Protesters in the Albanian capital expressed anger at the ongoing trial of wartime Kosovo Liberation Army officers at the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, saying the defendants were freedom fighters, not criminals. Original post Here
Albania in the Second War World : A Forgotten Theater of World War II
By Bernd Fischer It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify yet another book dealing with some aspect of World War II. Of all the armed conflicts of past centuries, World War II has engendered the most interest as well as an exhausting amount of written material. The opening of the …
Vlora Airport Stirs Security Fears Over Russian Links
Albania’s Second National Airport Sparks Concerns for National Security and NATO The opening of Albania’s second international airport in Vlora, celebrated as a milestone in the country’s infrastructure modernization, has quickly become embroiled in controversy. Reports in Albanian media suggest that the concession holder, businessman and former Kosovo president Behgjet …
Albania’s Currency Exchanges Tied to Drug Money Laundering
By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania,October 16,2025. Behind brightly lit kiosks advertising euros, dollars and pounds, prosecutors say a hidden financial system is moving millions in illicit cash for some of Albania’s most powerful drug-trafficking groups. Recent investigations by the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, or SPAK, reveal that certain licensed currency …
War Veterans’ Protest Sparks Tension Between Kosovo and Albania PMs
A protest planned for Friday in Tirana – against the Hague war crimes court’s trial of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci – has reignited feuding between Albania’s premier Edi Rama and the biggest party in Kosovo. Original post Here
Albania Emerges as Destination Port for Illicit Oil from Russia and Libya
Low quality, sanctioned oil products originating in Russia and Libya are finding a way through Albanian ports, hidden behind forged cargo declarations or inside the modified hulls of fishing boats. Original post Here
AI ‘Candidate’ Proposed for Albania Mayoral Election
After Albania’s government appointed an AI-generated digital assistant as a ‘minister’, a group of information technology experts have proposed an AI ‘candidate’ for the upcoming Tirana mayoral election. Original post Here
Albania Beats Serbia, Keeps World Cup Dream Alive
By Tirana Times Staff | October 12, 2025 LESKOVAC . Albania stunned Serbia with a 1–0 victory on Saturday night, a result that not only strengthens its bid for a first-ever World Cup but also carries enormous symbolic weight in one of the most politically charged rivalries in European football. …
Tirana Times, January 15, 2026 – Albania’s banking sector enters 2026 with growing caution, as banks operating in the country anticipate an increase in non performing loans despite strong demand for credit. According to the latest CESEE Banking Lending Survey conducted by the European Investment Bank for the second half …
After the US paused visa processing for 75 countries, including Albania, the opposition in Tirana has accused the government of getting the country put on Trump’s “blacklist”. Original post Here
Saudi Arabia welcomes Washington’s decision and reaffirms joint stance against extremism Tirana Times, January, 14, 2026 – The United States has officially designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, marking a major shift in Washington’s approach toward political Islamist movements. The announcement immediately drew …
Albania included among weak or failing states despite being a NATO member Tirana, Tirana Times, 14 January 2026 – Washington’s decision to suspend U.S. visa processing for Albania, effective January 21 and for an indefinite period, marks one of the strongest diplomatic signals sent to Tirana in years. Albania has …
In the Western Balkans, “security” is rarely an abstract concept. It is encountered as a lived condition, shaped by memory, geography and a persistent awareness that stability can erode when trust is thin. Security, in this context, is not discussed only in strategic documents or institutional language, but reasoned through …
Albania’s government is poised to waive business tax debts more than a decade old, as part of what it says is a reset in relations between the tax authorities and businesses. Critics say it is unfair on those who have played by the rules. 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
On a locked down November afternoon in 2020, as Europe grappled with Covid 19 restrictions, two Albanian men based in Belgium exchanged a handful of encrypted messages. Deciphered years later from the Sky ECC platform, their words captured a watershed moment in Europe’s cocaine trade. A shipment measured not in …
BIRN reporters trace the rise of Albanian crime gangs to the top of the European cocaine trafficking ladder, from remote parts of Paraguay to European Union ports. Original post Here
Political polarisation and government pressure on the judiciary – sparked by investigations of top politicians – could hinder Albania’s rapid progress towards European Union membership. Original post Here