Three arrested and one under investigation for gambling
Three people have been arrested and another has been put under investigation for the criminal offense of “Organizing or practicing gambling activities in violation of the law”. According to the police, these persons, aged 51, 44, 41 and 45 years old, practiced the illegal activity of gambling in a bar. …
The murder of Pjerin Xhuvani in Elbasan, experts begin the crime scene reconstruction
Three experts, two of whom are independent, are expected to reconstruct the scene of the crime that occurred on the eve of the 2021 parliamentary elections in Elbasan, based on a decision of the Court of Appeal. The three experts who will reconstruct the crime scene are Arjan Hanko, from …
Tirana, five arrested with 11 ‘AK-47 ‘ in Car
Five people have been arrested this Tuesday in Tirana, after police found 11 weapons type ‘ Avtomat Kalashnikova’ or AK-47 in the baggage of their vehicle. Their arrested was made in the area of ‘Fresku’ in capital and police suspects that the weapons come from Shkodra to be sold in …
Arrested for the alienation of properties, Jorgo Goro appears today before court
The mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, has arrived at the Court, where he will be introduced to the security measure. ABC News journalist Ermal Vija reports that the session is expected to start at 11:30 and Judge Rudina Palloi will attend the session. “Three people have been arrested, including Jorgo …
Igli Hasani meets with Pope Francis at Vatican
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani was hosted at the Holy See in a private audience by Pope Francis. Hasani, on behalf of the Albanian government and state, praised the efforts of the Holy Father and the Catholic Church to maintain peace, stability and harmony between religious …
Two remote control mines and C4 explosives are seized, a 24-year-old man is arrested
A 24-year-old from Fushë-Kruja, who was caught with two remote-controlled mines while transporting them towards Lezha, will remain in prison indefinitely. Arkil Selimi was introduced to the security measure at the Court of Lezha and in the session with closed doors, it is learned that he did not give any …
In Himara’s lucrative coastline, land deals lead to acting mayor’s arrest and political limbo
TIRANA, March 25, 2024 – Himara Municipality, which has one of the most commercially lucrative tourist coastlines in Albania, saw its acting mayor arrested over the weekend, as Jorgo Goro, a representative of the ruling Socialist Party, faces charges of allowing the irregular registration of two coastal properties through forged …
Albania ranks least happy in Europe, again, UN report finds
TIRANA, March 25, 2024 – Albania might be experiencing a tourism boom – but its residents remain Europe’s most unhappy people, according to an annual UN report published last week. Despite a slight improvement in its ranking compared to the previous year, with Albania climbing from 91st to 87th place …
SPAK seizes the apartment and vehicle of the former judge of Elbasan
An apartment and a vehicle owned by the former judge of Elbasan, Ilir Pashaj, have been seized. The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) immediately started the property investigation after the arrest of Pashaj, who was involved in a corrupt affair with judge Zamira Vyshka. Pashaj practiced the profession of lawyer at …
Director of University Hospital Center, Albana Fico discharged
The University Hospital Center in Albania, informed for the removal of the director, Albana Fico this Monday morning. No reasons were made public, but Fico will no longer be on the top of this institution. She was appointed three years ago, replacing in this post former director Enkelejd Joti. She …
Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …
The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here
Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …
Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. 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
By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …
From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here
by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …
By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …