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Four minors to face court after killing of a 15 year old

Prosecution of Elbasan has completed the investigations and has sent this Friday for adjudication the four minors who are accused of murdering the 15-year-old in Gramsh. Four minors with the initials E.K., S.M., O.Ç. and Xh.Ç. is accused of the criminal offense “Murder in other qualifying circumstances”, committed in cooperation …

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Tirana adult caught in possession of firearm

Aurel Lazaj, 37-year-old has been handcuffed the Tirana Police this Friday, after he was caught with firearms and ammunition in a bar. During the coded operation “Surprise”, the firearm and ammunition were seized. In the meantime, the procedural materials were passed to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First …

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New details on reportedly burned little girl revealed

New details have been learned from the event published the day before, where it was reported about a 2-year-old admitted to the Pediatrics of the State Medical University, with burn marks on her body. It is known that the minor girl was taken to the hospital by her aunt because …

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Lushnja woman sentenced for rape detained

Police of Lushnja has arrested this Friday the wanted 30-year-old Borana Faslliu, after she was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison, for the criminal offense of “Sexual relationship with violence, with adults”. Court of Appeal has sentenced the 30-year-old woman to 3 years and 4 months in …

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Special Court hearing on notorious Laert Haxhiu postponed

Hearing on Laert Haxhiu, accused of the double murder in Lushnja in 2017, where Jurgen Hoxha and Zamir Latifi lost their lives, while Xjulio Shkurti escaped the assassination, has been postponed this Friday. Special Court scheduled the next session on December 1 to give time to the appointed lawyer to …

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Durres, a 50 year old crashed to death by careless driver

A fatal accident happened this Friday morning in the city of Durrës, on the ring road of Shkozet.  According to the police, a vehicle, which was driven by a 32-year-old man, hit a 50 year old to death while riding a bicycle. On his part, driver of the vehicle was …

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“Temple” operation, a 27-year old is arrested

A 27-year-old man was captured by the police as part of the operation coded “Temple”. It is reported that the 27-year-old was declared wanted after the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Tirana has assigned the security measure “Arrest in prison” for the criminal offense “Production and …

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Man found dead inside car in Fier

A 39-year-old man from Tirana was found without signs of life in Fier, in the village of Daullas. From the actions so far, it is suspected that the 39-year-old committed suicide with a firearm. Police services immediately went to the scene, where they found a pistol and a cartridge case. …

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Ilir Panda, elected deputy president of the Supreme Court

The general meeting of judges of the Supreme Court held this Thursday the procedure for the election of the Deputy President of this Court. Referring to the requirements of Article 26, point 3 of Law no. 98/2016 “On the organization of judicial power in the Republic of Albania” as well …

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Man arrested for dealing drugs near Saranda school

A 44-year-old man was arrested by the police on Thursday morning, after he was caught selling narcotics near schools in Saranda. During the control carried out against the 44-year-old, the Police services found quantities of suspected narcotic cannabis, divided into about 63 doses, ready for sale. From the verifications carried …

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Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

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Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

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Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

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Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

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Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

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Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

News
Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

News
Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

News
Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

News

Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

News

Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

News

Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

News

Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

News

Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

News

Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here