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Peqin brothers caught possessing arsenal of weapons

Two brothers have been put in handcuffs this Sunday by the Police of Elbasan, as they are accused of having an arsenal of weapons. During the checks, 1 Kalashnikov, 1 pistol, 1 revolver, 1 shotgun and ammunition for them were found hidden in four bags. According to the police, the …

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Two shooters fired at 41-year-old victim during Vlora execution

New details have been learned regarding the event that happened on Saturday evening in the city of Vlora, where 41-year-old Leartiad Keka (Lekaj) was executed. From the expertise, it is learned that the wounds were caused by two different weapons.  The Kalashnikov was found in the burned vehicle, where three …

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Ex-minister seeks questioning of 90 witnesses for Gerdec case

Former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu requested this Friday in the Special Court the questioning of 90 witnesses on account of the process against him in this court for the Gërdec explosion, as a result of which 26 people passed away. Among them are senior defense officials of DASH and …

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“Golden Bullet”, the court leaves in prison lawyer Alban Bengasi, paid 120 thousand euros for the murder of his ex-wife

The court has given the security measure “prison arrest” for the lawyer, Alban Bengasi. The session for the lawyer Alban Bengasi, arrested two days ago in Rinas, started at 12:00 in the Special Court, the session took place behind closed doors, due to the preservation of investigative secrecy. The Special …

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Anti-drug operation, 8 arrested and one declared wanted

After 4 months of investigations, the Tirana police have carried out an anti-drug operation, arresting 8 people and declaring one wanted in Kodra e Diellit. The group had become a great concern for the residents of the area. Among those arrested is a husband and wife couple, where the husband, …

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A 24 year old arrested for smuggling emigrants

The police operation coded “Road Guard 73” is finalized by the structures of DVP Gjirokastër and DVKM Gjirokastër. A 24-year-old man was arrested in the act of transporting, against payment, 13 immigrants from third countries who had illegally entered Albania and intended to cross to EU countries. A Pakistani citizen …

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“Gerdec file”,the hearing session for former minister Fatmir Mediu is being held today

This Friday, the court session will be held for the former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, for the Gerdec explosion. In the last session, the lawyers of the former minister asked to waive the summary trial, but the court stated that only the defendant has the right to make this …

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Begaj in Kazakhstan, meeting with his counterpart Tokayev

The President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, accompanied by the First Lady Armanda Begaj, was received today on a state visit to Kazakhstan by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This visit marks the first visit of a president from Albania to Kazakhstan, and comes …

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Osmani with Stoltenberg: Kosovo is a success story of NATO, ready to do our job

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, during the joint conference with the head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said that the successes of her country are also successes of the North Atlantic Alliance. According to her, today Kosovo has the brightest democracy in the region and this achievement is undoubtedly attributed …

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Interior minister praises police operation on cannabis plants’ destruction

Interior Minister, Taulant Balla, has welcomed this Thursday the operation of the State Police, which has made possible the destruction of thousands of cannabis roots and the identification of the perpetrators. Through a post on social networks, Minister Balla declared that so far, 202 perpetrators have been identified nationwide, of …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …