Suspended vice mayor of Kukes appears at SPAK
After the suspension from the office, deputy mayor of Kukes Municipality, Granit Gjana appeared on Thursday morning at the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK). SPAK accuses Ghana of violating equality in tenders, while today Ghana will be notified of the measure of suspension from office. According to SPAK, Ghana, in violation …
SPAK finished probe on former Mayor of Durres
Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) closed this Thursday the investigations for the former mayor of Durrës, Vangjush Dako, and for the other defendants, who are accused of abuse of office in two cases. Eleven people have been charged, while only one has been requested by the prosecution to dismiss the case, …
2024 budget approved despite chaos in parliament
2024 budget has been approved this Thursday morning with 74 votes in favor, while the session closes after 8 minutes due to the tensions. At the launch of today’s plenary session, the opposition MPs clashed with the Guard of the Republic, which has been put on standby to ensure the …
40 arrested, 50 prosecuted in operation against illegal gambling
Cybercrime in Tirana’s Police Department has arrested at least 40 people and has proceeded with 50 others at large. These measures have been taken as part of the operation launched on Wednesday evening against gambling. ABC News journalist Ervin Leka reports that the police action has been extended to all …
Former PM Berisha’s son summoned by court for Gerdec file
Court summoned this Thursday Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, to testify in the process for the Gerdeci file. In today’s session, together with Shkëlzen Berisha, the court decided to call former minister Aldo Bumci as a witness. Today’s session was postponed due to the absence …
Man accused of involvement in former cop’s assassination denies knowing him
Blendi Teta, a person who is accused of having knowledge about the murder of ex-policeman Santiago Malko on August 27, 2019, testified this Wednesday in the court process in charge of Leonard and Elis Duka, Fatmir Hysen, Oltion Logut, Aleksandër Manxhak and Dritan Agaj. Teta answered the questions of the …
Rama: Albania needs luxury tourism
Prime Minister Edi Rama declared this Wednesday that Albania needs luxury tourism, so that the income of ordinary people in the country can have a greater income. In his speech during the presentation of the three finalist ideas of the International Competition of the Multifunctional Center and Information Stations for …
Man that provided ammo, bulletproof vests to criminals busted in Shkodra
A base with illegal materials, which would be used for criminal events, was found in Shkodër, the Police announced this Wednesday. Among the items seized were 7 bulletproof vests, 2 pairs of gloves, 3 masks, 2 wigs, combat ammunition, 1 metal shell, 1 shotgun and other illegal items, as well …
Rama-Meloni deal, opposition MPs hampered blocked commission
Opposition MPs have blocked the work in the Security Committee this Wednesday, where the discussion on the agreement with Italy for immigrants was expected to start. Members of Parliament did not allow the start of the meeting, while the democrat Flamur Noka sat in the chair of the commission. After …
Man who stalked, abused young woman arrested in Tirana
A person was arrested this Wednesday morning in Tirana during the “Following” coded police operation. This citizen, 33 years old, a resident of Lushnje, stalked a 24-year-old woman, abused her and threatened her to withdraw the report she filed against him a few days ago. His arrest was made by …
Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …
By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times). Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …
New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here
Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here
The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …
By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …
BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here
As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here
Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here