Population of nine Albanian districts fled to Tirana, Durres in 2022
Most of Albania’s counties, 9 out of 12 in total, are suffering population decline from internal emigration, in addition to fleeing abroad and declining births. INSTAT reported that in 2022 migration within Albania has a significant impact on the population of administrative units. In 2022, at the district level, only …
Burned human bones found in Shkodra
Burned bone remains were found on Tuesday evening in the village of Vilze in Shkodra. Police announced that the bones belonging to 67-year-old Qamil Lisaj were found in an improvised pit for burning coal. From the investigations so far, it is suspected that the 67-year-old man accidentally slipped into the …
Young man caught in possession of Kalashnikov rifle
A 28-year-old man was arrested in the village of Metallaj in Shijak, as part of the nationwide operation coded “Rule of Law”. This citizen possessed a Kalashnikov firearm in the apartment. When he did not see the police services, he tried to hide it in an area near his apartment. …
Op/Ed: The advantages of a regional experience
By Perparim Kalo, Founding Partner, Kalo & Associates As a witness to the birth and growth of CEE Legal Matters in the last 10 years, I can appreciate such a platform that keeps the legal profession updated with developments in the legal industry within CEE. I am also equipped with the …
Works of art traffickers arrested in Fier
Two people were arrested in Fier as part of the police operation coded “Value” this Tuesday. The two people, 51 years old and 57 years old, residents of Fier, in cooperation with other yet unidentified citizens, have trafficked works of art from the Greek state, to sell them in Albania. …
Killer of Peqin prison, 12 officials to face court after armed murder
Elbasan court has surrounded by numerous police forces this Tuesday morning, about two hours before the hearing on the security measure against Sokol Mjaçaj and 12 Peqin prison employees. According to the sources on the field, Elbasan police officers, the Albanian and Rapid Intervetion Forces teams are guarding the Elbasan …
Murder in Peqin prison, Sokol Mjacaj before the court: Multiple police forces in the courtroom
The hearing session has begun in the Court of Elbasan against Sokol Mjacaj, who will be recognized with the security measure, after killing Arben Lleshi and injuring Indrit Shaqjan in Peqin prison. Mjacaj arrived at the Court of Elbasan under strict security measures. In the testimony previously given before the …
“Immunity removal”, Democratic Party submits the draft proposal to the Assembly
Democratic Party has submitted a project proposal to the Assembly, where it requests the removal of the immunity of the deputies. The Secretary for Electoral Reform and the legal representative of Democratic Party, Rezart Kthupi said that the proposal foresees that within five days of the approval, the appropriate procedures …
Tirana, four call center managers arrested on money laundering charges
Four managers of two call centers in Tirana, where 29 citizens worked, 10 of them unregistered, have been put this Tuesday in handcuffs by the police. During the operation, the officers found and seized 9000 euros, 82 computer units, 23 mobile phones, 1 DVR, 2 USB sticks and 50 cards …
Kukes area affected by heavy fog, frost
Dense fog and frost have engulfed this Tuesday the national and rural roads of Kukes, which pose a great risk to vehicles. Reason for this situation is extremely low temperatures and the cessation of snowfall. Even the city of Kukës has been covered by dense fog this morning, creating traffic …
TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …
Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here
Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here
Brussels has already gone cold on a scheme to allow some aspirant countries like Albania and Serbia second-tier membership – but that doesn’t mean that other creative approaches to European enlargement are off the table. Original post Here
Journalists’ union welcomes ruling that says government-imposed one-year ban on social media platform was a ‘violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press’. Original post Here
Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …
The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here
Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …
Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here