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New director of Peqin prison appointed after inmate killing

Florenc Doka will be the new director of Peqin prison, who will replace Kamber Hoxha, who was arrested after the murder of Arben Lleshi by Sokol Mjacaj. Appointment of Doka to this post was signed by the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, yesterday. Kamber Hoxha along with 10 others were …

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Appellate Court rejects the request of Malltezi for returning a mobile phone and some documents

The Court of Special Appeal rejected the request of Jamarber Malltezi, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, for the return of a seized mobile phone and some documents. “The Court of Appeals today’s session, rejected the request of Jamarber Malltezi’s lawyers who requested the return of a mobile …

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SPAK seeks reincarceration of Berisha’s son-in-law

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has filed an appeal in the High Court for Jamarber Malltez, requesting his return to prison, as reported Friday. On November 21, the Court of Appeal changed the measure for Malltez from “prison arrest” to “house arrest”. This Friday, the Special Appeal rejected Jamarber Malltez’s request …

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Tirana, construction worker falls to his death

A 38-year-old worker fell from a height this Friday morning while working in a building under construction (Univers City) in Tirana. As a result of injured sustained by the impact with the ground, the worker died. Meanwhile, the investigative team is working to clarify the circumstances of the event. “On …

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Berisha’s arrest, Nikola signs the document and sends it to SPAK

The letter, signed by Lindita Nikolla, was sent to the Special Prosecutor’s Office after the vote on Thursday morning with 75 votes in favor to remove the MP’s immunity and pave the way for his arrest. A day ago, the two reports compiled by the members of the Mandates Council …

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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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How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation

By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …

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The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania

Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …

News
Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia

by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …

News
Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling

Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …

News
Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships

A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here

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Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

News
Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

News
As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

News
Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

News
Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

News

How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation

By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …

News

The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania

Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …

News

Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia

by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …

News

Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling

Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …

News

Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships

A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions

During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here

News

Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand

The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here

News

As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul

The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here

News

Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …

News

Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here