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Tried to deceive a businessman, police arrested a 42 year old

A 42-year-old man was arrested in Tirana as part of the coded police operation “Replay 2”. Arjan Ballcaj tried to deceive a businessman, in order to gain 200,000 euros, presenting himself as a high official. As material evidence, 1 vehicle and 1 mobile phone were seized. The operation was carried …

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Police plan of measures for Albania-Faroe Islands match

The State Police has published the plan of measures for the international football match between Albania and the Faroe Islands, which will be played on Monday (November 20) at the “Air Albania” Stadium. The plan of measures foresees the tasks that all structures will perform, in order to guarantee order …

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Ten arrested in Tirana, for various criminal offences

Specialists for Narcotics Investigation arrested the 29-year-old citizen, after during the physical check and that in the apartment, the Police services found and seized, as material evidence, quantities of suspected narcotic cannabis, two metal shredders and pharmaceutical bags. Crime Investigation Specialists of the Police Station No. 2 arrested the 67-year-old …

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Mayor Veliaj’s congratulatory message on Tirana’s 79th Liberation Anniversary

Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, issued this Friday the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Albanian capital. Through a reaction on Facebook, Veliaj said that Tirana is now more beautiful and united than ever, making everyone feel proud. “Happy 79th anniversary of liberation, our Tirana! We honor and respect the …

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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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Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

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The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News
Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

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Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

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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

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

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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 …

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’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

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