Blog
News

Population of nine Albanian districts fled to Tirana, Durres in 2022

Most of Albania’s counties, 9 out of 12 in total, are suffering population decline from internal emigration, in addition to fleeing abroad and declining births. INSTAT reported that in 2022 migration within Albania has a significant impact on the population of administrative units. In 2022, at the district level, only …

Read More
News

Burned human bones found in Shkodra

Burned bone remains were found on Tuesday evening in the village of Vilze in Shkodra. Police announced that the bones belonging to 67-year-old Qamil Lisaj were found in an improvised pit for burning coal. From the investigations so far, it is suspected that the 67-year-old man accidentally slipped into the …

Read More
News

Young man caught in possession of Kalashnikov rifle

A 28-year-old man was arrested in the village of Metallaj in Shijak, as part of the nationwide operation coded “Rule of Law”. This citizen possessed a Kalashnikov firearm in the apartment. When he did not see the police services, he tried to hide it in an area near his apartment. …

Read More
News

Op/Ed: The advantages of a regional experience

By Perparim Kalo, Founding Partner, Kalo & Associates As a witness to the birth and growth of CEE Legal Matters in the last 10 years, I can appreciate such a platform that keeps the legal profession updated with developments in the legal industry within CEE. I am also equipped with the …

Read More
News

Works of art traffickers arrested in Fier

Two people were arrested in Fier as part of the police operation coded “Value” this Tuesday. The two people, 51 years old and 57 years old, residents of Fier, in cooperation with other yet unidentified citizens, have trafficked works of art from the Greek state, to sell them in Albania. …

Read More
News

Killer of Peqin prison, 12 officials to face court after armed murder

Elbasan court has surrounded by numerous police forces this Tuesday morning, about two hours before the hearing on the security measure against Sokol Mjaçaj and 12 Peqin prison employees. According to the sources on the field, Elbasan police officers, the Albanian and Rapid Intervetion Forces teams are guarding the Elbasan …

Read More
News

Murder in Peqin prison, Sokol Mjacaj before the court: Multiple police forces in the courtroom

The hearing session has begun in the Court of Elbasan against Sokol Mjacaj, who will be recognized with the security measure, after killing Arben Lleshi and injuring Indrit Shaqjan in Peqin prison. Mjacaj arrived at the Court of Elbasan under strict security measures. In the testimony previously given before the …

Read More
News

“Immunity removal”, Democratic Party submits the draft proposal to the Assembly

Democratic Party has submitted a project proposal to the Assembly, where it requests the removal of the immunity of the deputies. The Secretary for Electoral Reform and the legal representative of Democratic Party, Rezart Kthupi said that the proposal foresees that within five days of the approval, the appropriate procedures …

Read More
News

Tirana, four call center managers arrested on money laundering charges

Four managers of two call centers in Tirana, where 29 citizens worked, 10 of them unregistered, have been put this Tuesday in handcuffs by the police. During the operation, the officers found and seized 9000 euros, 82 computer units, 23 mobile phones, 1 DVR, 2 USB sticks and 50 cards …

Read More
News

Kukes area affected by heavy fog, frost

Dense fog and frost have engulfed this Tuesday the national and rural roads of Kukes, which pose a great risk to vehicles.  Reason for this situation is extremely low temperatures and the cessation of snowfall. Even the city of Kukës has been covered by dense fog this morning, creating traffic …

Read More
News
Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News
Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News
Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News
Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News
Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News
Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News
Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

News
Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here

News

Clan Capitalism: Albania’s Privileged Investors and Their Seaside Villas

Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Widely Flouted, Even by Allies of PM

Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Deadlocks, Unexpected Twists and New Approaches

Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here

News

Kosovo Court Imposes New Ban on Parliament Over Deputy Speaker Logjam

Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here

News

Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

News

Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

News

Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News

Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

News

Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here