Blog
News

High court’s head launches work balance sheet of 2023

Head of the High Court, Sokol Sadushi summarized this Friday the achievements for 2023, emphasizing that the number of backlog cases has been decreasing. In a media conference, Sadushi underlined that after examining the backlog cases accumulated throughout 2018-2019, there will be no cases that exceed reasonable trial terms. Speaking …

Read More
News

Fier man arrested after punching two citizens in bar

A 53-year-old man from Fier broke the “house arrest” security measure and then got involved in a physical fight inside a bar.  Police announced Friday that he allegedly punched two other people. On its part, the investigative group has carried out all the verifications, while the 53-year-old man has been …

Read More
News

EU talks, Foreign Affairs Minister warns of ‘good news’ in 2024

Minister for Foreign Europe, Igli Hasani, underlined this Thursday the achievements of Albanian diplomacy for 2023 and the priorities for the next year. In a press conference, he said that they expect good news at the beginning of 2024 as far as negotiations with the EU are concerned. Furthermore, the …

Read More
News

Former mayor of Bulqiza sentenced to prison for abuse of duty

The Special Court found the former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, guilty and sentenced to 2 years in prison. The former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, and 8 other people were found guilty by the Special Court, on charges of abuse of office, violation of equality in tenders and forgery. …

Read More
News

Rama introduces AI public servant of E-Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented this Thursday the Public Servant of Artificial Intelligence, which is the virtual assistant 1.0 of every citizen in e-Albania. During the presentation, the Head of Government revealed that the “servant” will be at the service of every citizen at every hour and for every application. …

Read More
News

Former PM Berisha expected to be sentenced to house arrest by Special Court

Special Court is expected to decide this Thursday on the request of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) to review the security measure “house arrest” for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Just a day ago, the Anticorruption Court could not comment on the proposal of SPAK that …

Read More
News

Former-PM son’s call to SPAK after questioning by Special Court

Son of Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Shkelzen Berisha spoke this Wednesday after leaving the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), where he was questioned regarding the Gerdeci case. In his media statement, Shkelzen Berisha declared that he has no idea who sent the fax with the inscription …

Read More
News

Chief of Drenova prison’s guard arrested after Peqin murder

Internal Control Service of Prisons arrested this Wednesday the Chief of Police of the prison of Drenova, Mariglen Kadiu. According to the local media, his arrest is related to the recent events in Peqin prison, where Sokol Mjacaj killed Arben Lleshi with a gun and injured Indrit Shaqjan. Kadiu is …

Read More
News

Democratic Party seal’s issue returned for adjudication by High Court

High Court decided this Wednesday to return for a retrial to the Court of Appeal the issue of who owns the seal of DP Basha or Berisha. After finding irregularities in the process of examining the case, the High Court overturned the appeal decision. “Civil College of the Supreme Court …

Read More
News

Special Court to decide on leaving former PM Berisha under house arrest

Hearing against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha for the approval of the Prosecutor’s Office’s request for “house arrest” for the investigative file on the privatization of the former “Partizani” sports complex will be held this Wednesday, at 11:00. On Tuesday, the session was postponed due to the request of the …

Read More
News
Week in Review: Commitment, Stasis and the Epstein Effect

An unfolding scandal of global proportions combines with eventful developments in the region in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News
Kosovo, Albania Parliaments Adopt Resolutions Seeking Justice for Thaci

MPs in both Kosovo and Albania on Thursday adopted declarations in support of the four former guerilla KLA leaders, including Thaci, whose trial for war crimes in The Hague is coming to an end. Original post Here

News
Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

News
Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

News
Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

News
Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

News
Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

News
Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

News
Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

News
Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Commitment, Stasis and the Epstein Effect

An unfolding scandal of global proportions combines with eventful developments in the region in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Kosovo, Albania Parliaments Adopt Resolutions Seeking Justice for Thaci

MPs in both Kosovo and Albania on Thursday adopted declarations in support of the four former guerilla KLA leaders, including Thaci, whose trial for war crimes in The Hague is coming to an end. Original post Here

News

Actress Sues Albanian Govt for Using Her Image for AI ‘Minister’

Actress Anila Bisha told BIRN that her image was used as the face of Albania’s AI-generated public procurements ‘minister’ without proper permission. Original post Here

News

Albania’s AI Facade Cracks While Neighbors Win EU Funds

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Serbia and North Macedonia have secured concrete European Union funding to integrate into Europe’s emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure, while Albania—despite high-profile political messaging around AI—has been left outside the first wave of financed projects. According to the latest map and project list published by …

News

Behind Albania’s Collapsing Roads: Clientelism and Corruption

Tirana Times, February 12 2026 – The rapid deterioration of newly inaugurated roads and tunnels across Albania has exposed far more than technical shortcomings. What authorities have sought to explain as weather-related damage is increasingly understood as a symptom of deeper governance failures rooted in clientelism, weak oversight, and systemic …

News

Solar Energy Revolution Comes at a Cost in Rural Albania

Photovoltaic parks are multiplying across Albania as the country aims for ‘energy sovereignty’ – but locals say losing agricultural land to solar panels is a blow to their livelihoods. Original post Here

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Expires, But Promised Protections Still Pending

As a one-year ban ends, Albanian authorities say they are still working with TikTok on ‘relevant filters’ to better protect young users of the video-sharing app. Original post Here

News

Letter From Brussels: The Epstein Effect Hits Europe

In her latest monthly dispatch from Brussels, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at the ripple-effects of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, while Serbia falls behind on the long march to EU accession. Original post Here

News

Opposition Takes to the Streets as Corruption Scandal Reaches the Heart of Power

Tirana Times, February 10, 2026 – Thousands of Albanians filled the streets of Tirana on Tuesday evening in a national protest called by the opposition Democratic Party, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the dismissal of his government, and the establishment of a technical cabinet to lead the …

News

Balkans Seeing ‘Serious Stagnation’ in Tackling Corruption: Transparency International

As Transparency International releases its latest corruption perception index, the watchdog’s Lidija Prokic tells BIRN that anti-graft drives have faltered across the Western Balkans – in Serbia especially. Original post Here