Is A Storm Gathering Over Justice in Albania?
By Zef Preçi Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The campaign that Albania’s ruling Socialist Party appears to be preparing against the Special Anti Corruption Structure (SPAK) raises serious concerns not only about the future of the rule of law in the country but also about the credibility of Albania’s …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 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
How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation
By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …
The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania
Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …
Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia
by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …
Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling
Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …
Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships
A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here
Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here
Albania Arrests 20 for Toxic Waste-Trafficking to Thailand
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
As Trump’s Family Eyes Pristine Albanian Coast, Villagers Cry Foul
The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here
Is a decline in Freedom of Information requests last year in Albania a result of greater institutional transparency or the increasing pointlessness of the process? Journalists claim it could be a deliberate strategy. Original post Here
Taulant Balla met Socialist Party structures in Golem. He leads the party in Tirana County. The meeting focused on internal organization. It also stressed stronger field engagement. Participants discussed continuing work under the “Jobs of Albania” initiative. Balla highlighted cooperation between local structures. He said teamwork helps meet development goals. …
Tale in Lezhë has long attracted tourists. Each year, more visitors arrive. Therefore, authorities moved to improve access. The government backed a municipal project. It built a new road linking Rrilë and the Tale Hydrovore with the Lezhë–Tirana highway. The road stretches 6.3 km. It follows modern standards. It includes …
Every Tuesday since March 17 has drawn pilgrims to the Church of Saint Anthony in Laç. As a result, the site has become a center of prayer. People travel from cities across the country. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media. He showed the church in Laç. He …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu met EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato in Tirana. They discussed key challenges facing Albania’s justice system. They focused on efficiency. They also discussed improving citizens’ access to justice. In addition, they stressed stronger procedural guarantees. The talks also covered EU support. The European Union will help the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama gathered the Socialist Party parliamentary group. The meeting took place at the Assembly Presidency. It was held without media presence. Rama focused on parliamentary work. He also urged MPs to continue meetings with citizens. These meetings are part of the “Jobs of Albania” tour. He praised …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha and Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni met students in Durrës. They visited “Naim Frashëri” High School and “Aleksandër Moisiu” University. The meeting is part of the national tour, “EU and You: Europe Starts Here.” The event aims …
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. International Investigative Unit completed a specialized training with Albania’s Border Police. The focus was on detecting illegal documents and assessing risks. The training emphasized practical techniques to spot forgeries. It also strengthened officers’ professional skills in the field. The embassy highlighted …
The Montenegrin film Nderi premieres for the first time in Tirana and Prishtina. The director, Nikola Vukčević, presents it as Montenegro’s official Oscar® candidate (98th Academy Awards). The film has won 20 international awards at 31 festivals. These include the Cairo International Film Festival, IFFI GOA, and Palm Springs International …
The Ombudsman Endrit Shabani, who also serves as President of the Mediterranean Ombudsmen Organization (AOM), is conducting an official visit to the Republic of Kosovo, where he was received in a high-level meeting by the Speaker of Parliament and Acting President, Albulena Haxhiu. The discussions focused on the protection of …