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. …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
SPAK prosecutor seeks authorization to arrest former PM Berisha
Prosecutor of SPAK (Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution), Arben Kraja, asked the Council of Immunity and Mandates on Monday for authorization to arrest former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. At the meeting of the Council, Kraja said that there are suspicions about Berisha committing the criminal offense of corruption during the time he …
Who is man that survived assassination attempt in Shkodra
One person was injured after shooting with firearms in Shkoder this Monday morning. Aleksander Curaj was injured, who is receiving help from the white shirts of Shkodra, while his condition is still unknown. According to the information, the author shot four times at him and left on a bicycle. Meanwhile, …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here