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A 37-year-old died in prison

A 37-year-old Mariglen Qani Alterziu, sentenced to 1 year and 4 months in prison, died on Saturday in Rrogozhina prison.  The General Directorate of Prisons announces that the convict entered the sanitary facilities and after a few minutes was found unconscious on the floor. The medical staff on duty gave …

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Exchange of fire between Kosovo police and 5 people in North

Kosovo police have announced that they have arrested five people in Zubin Potok, in an exchange of fire towards the police. The persons were detained on suspicion of smuggling goods, the deputy director for the northern region, Veton Elshani. “Today in the early hours of the morning in the vicinity …

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A 39-year-old man is found dead in Durres

A 39-year-old man was found dead in the city of Durres. From the preliminary examination of the body of the 39-year-old, no signs of violence were found. In advance, it is suspected that this citizen died of natural causes.  The investigative group has started investigations into the case. /abcnews.al […] …

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Punched to death a 55-year old, police gives the security measure for Rei Meta

The court in Vlora decides “prison arrest” for Rei Meta for the charge of “manslaughter”. The judge of the case accepted the prosecution’s request. The prosecution had requested arrest in prison, a decision that was accepted by the Court. The conflict over a sum of money cost the life of …

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100 new positions for police officers, Balla: New law to revival the State Police

Interior Minister Taulant Balla held a meeting with lecturers and leaders of the University of Tirana, with the aim of building bridges of institutional cooperation within the framework of excellence programs for the State Police. Balla said that the police force needs to be renewed and deepen its self-purification. He …

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SPAK sends to trial Nuredin Dumani and 19 other defendants

The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) closed the investigations for Nuredin Dumani and 19 other persons part of the operation “The golden bullet”. According to the information for the media, SPAK sent to trial Nuredin Dumani, Henrik Hoxha, Skerdi Tasi, Enver Diva, Besian Xhixha, Erion Alibej, Florenc …

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After the resignation of Safet Gjici, the President decrees the date: On September 24 elections for the head of the municipality of Kukes

The President of the Republic Bajram Begaj announced today the decree no. 186 dated 11.08.2023 for “Setting the date of the elections for the Mayor of Kukes”. The President set the date September 24, 2023 as the date of holding the elections for Mayor in the Municipality of Kukes. Since …

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Selling smuggled goods, police arrested father and son

Father and son have been arrested by the Tirana police after being accused of distributing and storing contraband goods. According to the police, it was learned that within the coded operation “Next”, father and son transported smuggled goods to Albania, and stored them in the entity under their administration. An …

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Shooting in Kosovo, one dead, three injured

One died, three others were injured in shooting in a bar in Runik village of Skenderaj in Kosovo, police confirmed. Police’s spokesperson, informed that the event happened at 01:21 am this morning and the victim is a 39-year-old. Fortunately the three injured, are out the danger of their life, while …

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Balla meets Ambassador Karl Bergner: Traffic Police will be trained according to German standards

Interior Minister Taulant Balla held a meeting with the new German ambassador in Tirana, Karl Bergner. During the meeting, Balla and Bergner discussed the possibility of creating new mechanisms for the promotion of people with high moral and professional integrity, where, according to Balla, German expertise in this regard will …

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No Silver Bullet: Sanctions in Western Balkans Risk Becoming Empty Gestures

International sanctions can be a useful tool for holding powerful figures accountable – but if they’re not followed up with action in their home countries, their effect may be limited. Original post Here

News
Moving Albanian Drug Money, on Trust or in Crypto

Investigators have documented the use of foreign exchange offices in Albania to move drug money, either in crypto or via a centuries-old, trust-based system called Hawala. Original post Here

News
Obituary

Remembering Janusz Bugajski: Scholar, Mentor, and Lifelong Friend of the Balkans Janusz Bugajski (1954–2025) The international academic and analytical community has lost one of its most lucid and principled voices. Janusz Bugajski, the distinguished American analyst of Eurasian and Balkan affairs, passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age …

News
How Albania Became a Hub of the Global Fraud Industry

Organised crime networks are using call centres in Albania to defraud people across Europe, conning them with promises of big profits from scam investments and employing sophisticated social-engineering techniques. Original post Here

News
Why Britain Needs the Western Balkans Summit to Deliver on Migration

The UK’s ambitious agenda for the London summit of the Berlin Process reflects its commitment to the Western Balkans region but also its own domestic priorities, starting with illegal migration. Original post Here

News
Türkiye and Albania: From Shared Past to Strategic Future

By Marjana Doda, This feature draws on exclusive insights from an interview with Ambassador Tayyar Kagan Atay, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Atay reflects on the unique depth of Albanian–Turkish ties—links shaped by shared history …

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: October 20, 2025

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
Albanian Judges Decry ‘Non-Existent Security’ After Courtroom Killing

The courtroom killing of a judge in Tirana has prompted calls from Albanian judges and prosecutors for authorities to get serious about their ‘almost non-existent’ security. Original post Here

News
Albania–Kosovo Rift Weakens the Albanian Voice 

The Rama–Kurti clash over the war crimes tribunal highlights deeper structural tensions, from unimplemented agreements to competing regional agendas.  The latest clash between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo’s Albin Kurti is more than another exchange of political insults. It reflects the fragile state of relations between Albania and …

News
Tirana Protesters Demand Justice for Kosovo War Leaders 

Hundreds of protesters rallied in the Albanian capital on Friday demanding justice for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on trial in The Hague, denouncing the proceedings as an attack on the wartime struggle against Serbian forces.  The demonstrators, many waving KLA flags and chanting slogans such as …

News

No Silver Bullet: Sanctions in Western Balkans Risk Becoming Empty Gestures

International sanctions can be a useful tool for holding powerful figures accountable – but if they’re not followed up with action in their home countries, their effect may be limited. Original post Here

News

Moving Albanian Drug Money, on Trust or in Crypto

Investigators have documented the use of foreign exchange offices in Albania to move drug money, either in crypto or via a centuries-old, trust-based system called Hawala. Original post Here

News

Obituary

Remembering Janusz Bugajski: Scholar, Mentor, and Lifelong Friend of the Balkans Janusz Bugajski (1954–2025) The international academic and analytical community has lost one of its most lucid and principled voices. Janusz Bugajski, the distinguished American analyst of Eurasian and Balkan affairs, passed away on October 18, 2025, at the age …

News

How Albania Became a Hub of the Global Fraud Industry

Organised crime networks are using call centres in Albania to defraud people across Europe, conning them with promises of big profits from scam investments and employing sophisticated social-engineering techniques. Original post Here

News

Why Britain Needs the Western Balkans Summit to Deliver on Migration

The UK’s ambitious agenda for the London summit of the Berlin Process reflects its commitment to the Western Balkans region but also its own domestic priorities, starting with illegal migration. Original post Here

News

Türkiye and Albania: From Shared Past to Strategic Future

By Marjana Doda, This feature draws on exclusive insights from an interview with Ambassador Tayyar Kagan Atay, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Atay reflects on the unique depth of Albanian–Turkish ties—links shaped by shared history …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: October 20, 2025

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

Albanian Judges Decry ‘Non-Existent Security’ After Courtroom Killing

The courtroom killing of a judge in Tirana has prompted calls from Albanian judges and prosecutors for authorities to get serious about their ‘almost non-existent’ security. Original post Here

News

Albania–Kosovo Rift Weakens the Albanian Voice 

The Rama–Kurti clash over the war crimes tribunal highlights deeper structural tensions, from unimplemented agreements to competing regional agendas.  The latest clash between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo’s Albin Kurti is more than another exchange of political insults. It reflects the fragile state of relations between Albania and …

News

Tirana Protesters Demand Justice for Kosovo War Leaders 

Hundreds of protesters rallied in the Albanian capital on Friday demanding justice for former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) on trial in The Hague, denouncing the proceedings as an attack on the wartime struggle against Serbian forces.  The demonstrators, many waving KLA flags and chanting slogans such as …