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Balla-Wisner discusses war on narcotics trafficking

Albania’s Interior Minister, Taulant Balla held a meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires in Tirana, David Wisner. During the meeting, Balla and Wisner discussed the partnership and cooperation between Albania and the United States of America in the field of law enforcement, focusing on the fight against organized crime and …

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Seven arrested as 500 kg of drugs get busted in Vlora

A criminal cannabis trafficking group has been destroyed in Vlora, after an anti-drug operation carried out during the night until the early hours of the morning. According to the sources, about 500 kilograms of cannabis were seized and seven people were arrested. Two vans and two vehicles were seized during …

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Korca judge left to four years in prison for corruption

Special Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence of 4 years and 6 months in prison for Mimoza Margjeka, the judge of the Korçë Appeal, for the charge of “corruption”. On December 15 of last year, the Court gave this measure of punishment, which was suspended and converted into 3 …

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Balla vows for inter-institution coop to prevent violence

Interior Minister Taulant Balla said this Tuesday that there will be absolutely no lack of cooperation between institutions to prevent incidents of violence that can lead to tragedies. During his speech from the conference on the protection of “victims of crime”, where the international cross-sectoral strategy 2024-2023 is being presented, …

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Rama: About ten million foreign tourists visited Albania in 2023

During 2023, Albania has welcomed 9.54 million foreign visitors, Prime Minister Edi Rama informed this Monday, adding that only during the month of November, 547 thousand foreign tourists visited Albania. In a social media statement, PM Rama emphasized that these are proofs that Albania is being visited in every season …

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German citizen caught with 30,000 undeclared euro in Rinas

Two cases of smuggling and one of non-declaration of money at the border were dealt with this Monday by police authorities. A German citizen was criminally prosecuted for the case of non-declaration of the money. Meanwhile, the amount of 30,000 euros that he did not declare at the exit of …

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Luxurious vehicle burned in Shkodra

A luxurious vehicle was partially burned in the early hours of Monday morning in Shkoder. Police revealed that the “Range Rover” type vehicle is owned by a 58-year-old resident of America. On its part, the investigative group led by the Prosecutor’s Office is working to determine the cause of the …

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Two injured and six cars crash on nation’s highway

Six vehicles collided this Monday morning, on Nation’s Highway, near the village of Blinisht. According to the police, as a result of the collision, material damage was caused and two people were slightly injured. Following the massive accident, police services went to the scene and are working to determine the …

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Elbasan, teen busted transporting drugs

A 19-year-old was arrested in Elbasan after he was caught transporting a quantity of narcotics. Drugs were found hidden in the vehicle driven by the young man, as announced Monday. On their part, the authorities have identified the owner of this vehicle and the work to catch him is ongoing./abcnews.al …

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12 incinerator defendants to appear before Special Court

2 people arrested by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), are expected to appear before the court this Monday at 10:30, for the Tirana Incinerator affair. Earlier on, the Special Prosecutor’s Office issued 15 arrest warrants, after the investigations started for the concession awarding procedures …

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Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

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 …

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UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

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

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Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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

News
Letter from Brussels: Is a Hopeful Breeze Blowing Through the EU’s ‘Waiting Room’?

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

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Albania’s TikTok Ban Violated Free Expression, Court Rules

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

News
Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

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 …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

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

News
Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

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 …

News
Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

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 …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

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

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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

News

Letter from Brussels: Is a Hopeful Breeze Blowing Through the EU’s ‘Waiting Room’?

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

News

Albania’s TikTok Ban Violated Free Expression, Court Rules

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

News

Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

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 …

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

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

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

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 …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here