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SPAK reveals charges against Berisha, Malltezi

The Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has revealed the official charges against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, his son-in-law Jamarber Malltezi and the builder Fatmir Bektashi. It is learned that Berisha is accused of passive corruption carried out in collaboration according to article 260 and 25 of …

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Arbëresh language soon in all schools of Calabria, Begaj: Together, we are all stronger

President Bajram Begaj, on the second day of his visit to Cosenza in Calabria, also stopped at “Spezzano Albanese”, where he was received by the Arber community and the local authorities. To welcome the head of state, Albanian citizens who fled the country in recent years arrived in Calabrian Arberia …

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SPAK discloses Berisha’s involvement in ‘Partizani Complex’ affair

The Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) in Tirana has officially published the charges against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, his son-in-law Jamarbër Malltezi and builder Fatmir Bektashi, in connection with the privatization of the former Partizani complex. In the announcement of SPAK, it is stated that …

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President Begaj three-day visit in Italy

President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj will conduct an official visit to the municipalities inhabited by Arbëresh people in the Calabria region, at invitation of the Calabrian authorities and the Regional Institute of the Arbëresh community of Calabria. From October 20 to 23, Begaj will meet Arbëresh residents …

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Murder of Shkodra senior citizen by axe solved, one arrested

A serious crime that took place in Shkodra, where a dead body was found on Thursday in Boks village in a canal, has been solved, as announced this Friday. Police revealed that initially, it was thought that it was a natural death, but the examination of the corpse showed that …

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Rrumbullaku-Sandoval discuss cracking down on criminal groups

General Director of the State Police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, continues the meetings with representatives of international law enforcement authorities and police leaders of different countries, with the aim of creating new bridges of cooperation, for the exchange of information that serves to combat criminal activities, in especially the international trafficking of …

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Ex-mayor of Durres seeks freedom after ‘abuse of duty’ charges

Former Mayor of Durres Vangjush Dako, arrested for “abuse of duty” on two occasions, appealed to the Supreme Court the decision of the Special Appeal that left the security measure of detention in prison unchanged. The appeal has been registered as the lot casting has appointed Ilir Panda as relator …

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File on Greece-imprisoned Lushnja gang’s head passed to SPAK

Prosecution of Elbasan announced this Friday incompetence for the file of Laert Haxhiu’s group, passing it to the Social Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK). Initially, this prosecutor started the investigation for a murder that happened in Peqin where the suspect was Artan Tafani, the latter after being arrested …

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Interior minister calls for ‘self-cleaning’ of Police ranks

Interior Minister Taulant Balla, accompanied by the Director of DVP, Durres Skender Hita, held a meeting with the structures of the Police Station in Kavaja, where he emphasized the need for deepening the process of self-cleaning of the police ranks and increasing public confidence. The Minister also underlined the commitment …

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European Parliament to vote on resolution condemning Kosovo attack

European Parliament (EP) is expected to approve this Thursday a resolution on the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as on the terrorist attack in the village of Banjska. This resolution was initiated by the political group of social democrats in the EP, as they assess the situation in …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News
Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …