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Parliament to vote on lifting Berisha’s immunity as MP

Albanian Parliament is expected to vote this Thursday on the removal of Sali Berisha’s immunity after the Mandates Council approved the request of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) to grant the authorization for the arrest of the former prime minister and the Constitutional Court dismissed the …

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Harsh security measures as opposition to protest against former PM’s arrest

Around 800 officers from the Tirana Police and the National Security Forces (NSF) are committed to maintaining order and security as the opposition protest is expected to be held this Thursday against a harsher security measure on Former Prime Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Local media reported that the measures were …

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Assembly votes for immunity removal of Berisha, who are the expelled opposition MPs

As the Assembly is expected to vote on removing the immunity of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, there is a clash between the MPs who support him and the Guard of the Republic at the entrance of the building. Some MPs, who are expelled from the Parliament, try to forcefully …

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Parliament approves removal of former MP Berisha’s Immunity

Albanian Parliament has voted this Thursday to remove the immunity of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, thus paving the way for his arrest with 75 votes in favor. A day ago, the two reports compiled by the members of the Mandates Council were submitted to the Assembly, who voted in …

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Berisha sees immunity’s removal as political revenge

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha spoke this Thursday from the blue headquarters, after the closure of the opposition protest. In his speech, Berisha described the decision of the Assembly to remove his immunity as political revenge. Furthermore, the Former PM said that although he has no immunity, he feels stronger …

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Inmate injured in Peqin prison shooting accused of collaboration with killer

Elbasan Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Indri Shaqjas, the person who was injured by the shooting in Peqin prison. He is suspected of collaborating with Sokol Mjacaj for the murder of Arben Lleshi. According to the prosecution, his involvement in this event is being verified after a cell phone …

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Gjirokastra border police’s director confirmed in duty

Ndue Doçi has been confirmed this Wednesday in office in the function of Director of the Local Directorate of Border and Migration of Gjirokastra area. Assessment body, set up by the Police Supervision Agency, said that Doçi was subjected to the control of three pillars: purity of image, wealth and …

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Rama vows special categories loans interest will be paid by state

Prime Minister Edi Rama held this Wednesday an activity regarding the loans that will be given to the new families of doctors, soldiers and State Police employees, promising that the interest of these loans will be paid by the state. In his speech during the activity regarding the implementation of …

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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 …

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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 …

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Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

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

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Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

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

News
Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

News
Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …

News
Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

News
Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

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In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 2026

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
Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

News
Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …

News

Port-to-Port: How Albanians Conquered the European Cocaine Market

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

News

Albania in 2026: Battles With Anti-Graft Prosecutors Risk Slowing EU Progress

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

News

Heavy Rains Cause Evacuations and Discontent in Albania

Dramatic situation reported in several towns, while some locals complain of being abandoned. Original post Here

News

Albania Under Water: A Return to a Hobbesian State of Nature

TIRANA TIMES, December 6, 2025 – Albania is once again under water. Torrential rains over the past days have triggered massive flooding across almost the entire country, exposing not only the fragility of urban infrastructure but, more fundamentally, the long-term failure of governance. From the northern plains to the southern …

News

Europe Tightens the Fight Against Corruption, Albania at a Crossroad

By Zef Preçi, Executive Director of ACER As Albania presents itself as closer than ever to the European Union, a troubling contradiction has emerged in its domestic legal and political debate. While the EU is moving decisively toward tougher and more harmonized criminal rules against corruption, Albania is simultaneously discussing …

News

Housing Boom Prices Out Albanians

Allegations of money laundering in construction and claims of informal power networks, including the case of Ergys Agasi, fuel concerns over a distorted housing market Tirana Times, TIRANA, 05 January 2026 – For many middle income families in Tirana, buying an apartment has shifted from a realistic life goal to …

News

In Albania, Women Often Quit Local Councils to Make Way for Men

Democracy and the rights of women are being undermined in Albania by the practice of filling electoral candidate lists with women, only to have them resign en masse once the results are in and cede their seats to men. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: January 5, 2026

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

Balkan States Give Divided Reactions to US Strike on Venezuela

Albania and Kosovo applauded the Trump administration’s military operation against Venezuela’s regime and the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, while other states in the region initially remained silent or called for calm and restraint. Original post Here

News

Roaming Like at Home and the Western Balkans

By Genc Pollo Tirana, 02 January 2026 – Today’s decision by the European Union to grant “roaming like at home” to Ukraine and Moldova deserves praise. It is a practical citizen-centered step that immediately lowers costs improves connectivity and makes Europe tangible in everyday life. Yet the non inclusion of …