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Gjirokastra man arrested for violating own mother

A 44-year-old man in Gjirokastër has been arrested his Tuesday, after he abused his mother and threatened her with a hunting rifle. Gun in question was seized as material evidence along with a quantity of combat ammunition for this type of weapon, a quantity of cannabis and a knife, which …

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Six illegal watercrafts blocked in Shengjin, Kavaja

Border Police has blocked this Tuesday six vessels in Durres and Shengjin, while checks and verifications continue along the entire coastline of the districts. Due to the lack of proper documentation, 4 Jet Skis, 1 speedboat and 1 dinghy were blocked from Shengjin to Kavaja. Meanwhile, their owners have been …

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Minister of Education resigns from the cabinet of Kurti

Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in the Government of Kosovo, Edona Maloku Bërdyna has announced that she has resigned from her position for subjective reasons. She submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Kurti, saying that it is impossible to continue her commitment to this task. “I am deeply …

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SPAK seizes Tirana’s incinerator

Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it has seized the Tirana incinerator. SPAK announces that it is investigating within the criminal proceedings for the criminal offenses of “Fraud with serious consequences” in cooperation, “Abuse of duty”, “Passive corruption of high state officials or local elected officials”. It is also …

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Kruja man prosecuted for threatening citizen with hunting rifle

A 53-year-old man has been prosecuted this Monday in Kruja after he threatened another citizen with a shotgun. Police revealed that the event took place in the village of Brret, Krujë, where after having a conflict with the 47-year-old citizen, the 53-year-old man threatened him with the gun. Following police …

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Corruption in Ministry of Health, the investigations are closed

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigations regarding the affair in the Ministry of Health, where at least four people have been charged, including the former secretary of this ministry, Joana Duro, and two engineers who won a tender worth about 8 million ALL. Journalist Ermal Vija reports for …

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Police seized 28,000 undeclared euros at the border of Muriqan

Police has seized 28,400 euros who were found in car of a 50-year old. Proceedings were initiated against the citizen from Kosovo for the criminal offense of “Failure to declare money and valuables at the border”. The materials were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, where the proceedings began in free …

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Kukes Prosecution’s Head suspended after power abuse charges

High Prosecutorial Council (HPC) has suspended this Monday from office the chief prosecutor of Kukes, Xhevahir Lita, arrested during the operation of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), codenamed “Metamorfoza”. During the meeting called by Head of HPC, Alfred Balla, it was decided that Kukesi’s Prosecutor’s Office …

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Albania and North Macedonia joint customs control, Rama: We should not wait for the EU to remove barriers between us

This Monday, Prime Minister Edi Rama was present at the Qafe-Thane border crossing point, where he emphasized the importance of customs unification between the two countries, Albania and North Macedonia, which will affect economic development. Among other things, Rama has expressed that it is important that we facilitate trade procedures …

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Police close investigations for 4 people charged for drug trafficking

Investigations are closed for 4 people who tried to traffic 1 ton of cannabis by ship to Italy. SPAK has charged Gregor Likaj, Arber Saraseli, Saverjo Imeraj and Qemal Pekmezi with the charge of international drug trafficking and organized criminal group. The narcotics were loaded by speedboats by Albanian citizens …

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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 …