Two arrested for possession of weed, cannabis seeds in Gjirokastra
Police of Gjirokastra have handcuffed two citizens, who kept narcotic substances and seeds in their apartment, with the intention of selling them. The arrested are Elis Ballaxhia and Daniel Hazizaj, 35 and 25 years old, both residents of Gjirokastra. During checks, the officers seized 236 grams of cocaine, 253 cannabis …
Seized assets, Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime appeal rejects former deputy PM’s request
The appeal of GJKKO (Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime) rejected the request of the former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj for the appeal made for the seized property. Arben Ahmetaj’s lawyers appealed a few months ago in the GJKKO Appeal against SPAK’s (Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized …
German MP: Immunity of MPs may be suspended by law authorities
The German MP, Gunther Krichbaum, has commented on the recent decisions of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), where the former Prime Minister Sali Berisha is under the “compulsion to appear” measure, while his son-in-law is behind bars for the issue of the privatization of the “Partizani” …
‘Temple’ operation, another man arrested for drug trafficking
A 31-year-old man was arrested by the police after being wanted for drug trafficking. As part of the police operation “Temple”, the citizen Aneo Gashi fell behind bars. “A 31-year-old wanted as part of this mega-operation is located, captured and imprisoned. As a result of intensive investigative and procedural actions, …
SPAK seizes assets of businessman Pellumb Gjoka
The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has seized the assets of businessman Pëllumb Gjoka, who is behind bars as part of the “Metamorfoza” operation. In the announcement of SPAK, there is talk about a number of assets, land in the area of Pulaj-Plazh, Velipojë, which appeared to …
Fier, three punished for spilling fuel waste into Gjanica river
Three people have been criminally prosecuted for the pollution of the Gjanica river, while the police announce that the three prosecuted, employees of two private companies active in the field of hydrocarbons, threw waste into the river. From the investigations, it turned out that the 2 companies where these citizens …
Why Saranda’s urban planning official got arrested
Ariel Balani, the official of the Department of Urban Planning of Saranda Municipality was arrested on Thursday evening, by order of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK). Special Prosecution released official information this Friday regarding the arrest, where it is announced that Balani has committed the criminal offense of “Exercising illegal …
Former PM Berisha’s son-in-law seeks release from prison
The lawyers of Jamarber Malltezi, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, will file a request for a change of measure in the Court of Appeal. Malltezi was left in prison on Monday by the Special Court for charges of corruption and money laundering, related to the privatization of …
Former MP Rrahman Rraja’s nephew caught with drugs
Police have arrested a 22-year-old, identified as Ariel Rraja – the grandson of the former socialist Mp, Rrahman Rraja, who was caught with narcotics. During the search of his vehicle in Nikël, money and cocaine were found on the young man, which were seized along with the vehicle. This is …
Rama participates in Konstantinos Mitsotakis bust’s inauguration
Prime Minister Edi Rama participated this Friday in the inauguration of Derviçani square in Dropull, which will bear the name of Konstantinos Mitsotakis. In his speech, Rama said that the bust of Mitsotakis, who was the first Greek prime minister to visit Dropulli, will stand as a symbol of the …
V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group. Tirana Times, March 23, 2026 – Albania has been placed in the category of electoral autocracy in the latest Democracy Report 2026 by the …
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. 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
Democratic Party leader and former President Sali Berisha injured during clashes. Tirana Times, March 22, 2026 — Albania’s latest national opposition protest in Tirana, which ended in violent clashes between protesters and police, exposed not only rising anger against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government but also a broader crisis of …
Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – The United States has moved to dismantle a cyber network linked to Iran’s intelligence apparatus, seizing four domains used for hacking operations, disinformation campaigns and threats, in a case that places Albania at the center of a broader geopolitical confrontation. The U.S. Department of …
Parliament’s decision to label Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism formalizes a break years in the making and reflects a broad Albanian consensus that Iran has become a direct security threat Tirana Times, March 18, 2026 – Albania has taken one of its toughest political steps yet against Iran, with …
TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …
Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here
by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …