Albanian MPs Clash in Parliament Amid Tensions Over Corruption Cases
Opposition MPs hurled bottles and clashed with guards as the new ruling party-backed Ombudsman took his oath amid heightened tensions sparked by high-level graft cases. Original post Here
Visiting Thaci in Hague Jail, Albania PM Slates ’Shameful’ War Court
Albania’s Edi Rama lashed out at the Hague-based Specialist Chambers war crimes court following a visit to Kosovo’s ex-President Hashim Thaci in detention, calling it a ‘theatre of shame’. Original post Here
Stability Has a Schedule: What NATO’s Hague Pledge Means for the Western Balkans
In late August 2022, Montenegro’s government digital infrastructure was hit by what officials called an “unprecedented” cyberattack. The disruption was serious enough that parts of the public sector had to fall back on manual workarounds while authorities tried to isolate affected systems. In a region where state capacity is often …
Albania in 2025: Socialists Win Big, Graft Probes Continue
Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a historic fourth term in office and consolidated his rule against a background of ongoing corruption investigations into several politicians from the governing Socialist Party. Original post Here
Kremlin Echoes in Balkan Clickbait: How Fake Baba Vanga Prophecies Spread Across Albanian Media
TIRANA, Tirana Times, December 16, 2025. Each December, apocalyptic headlines resurface across Albanian media warning of global collapse, Europe’s disappearance or the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a world ruler, all attributed to the supposed prophecies of Baba Vanga, a blind Bulgarian mystic who died nearly three decades ago. …
Serbia Loses Kushner Investment, Vučić Points to Albania
Albania’s Sazan Island project backed by Trump’s son-in-law draws scrutiny over transparency and political motives BELGRADE, Serbia, Tirana Times – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia has suffered a major economic setback after a company owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, withdrew from a planned Trump-branded …
Bringing Albania into History: Bernd J. Fischer and World War II
By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War, 1939–1945. This is not just a history book. It is an act of historical rescue. Fischer lifts Albania from the shadows of European historiography and places …
AKSHI Director Arrested in Major Corruption Probe
Case Involving Critical State Infrastructure Adds to Albania’s Growing High Level Corruption Crisis Tirana Times – December 16, 2025 Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure, SPAK, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation, BKH, has carried out a large-scale operation targeting an alleged criminal network operating at the highest levels of the …
Albanian Prosecution Urges Parliament to Allow Deputy PM’s Arrest
Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime asks parliament to lift the immunity from arrest of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Original post Here
Eight Accused in Albania of Rigging Information Agency Tenders
Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime raids a suspected crime group based at the National Information Agency, accused of running scheme to manipulate tenders. Original post Here
TIRANA, April 3 – Aubrey Herbert, a British politician, diplomat, and writer, was born in London on 3 April 1880. He became one of the most notable figures in Anglo-Albanian friendship. His travels across Albanian lands from 1904 to 1917 created a deep spiritual bond with the Albanian people and …
TIRANA, April 3 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari presented key security reforms linked to Albania’s European Union integration process. Speaking at a press conference, he outlined progress under Chapter 24 on justice, freedom, and security. He said authorities have achieved measurable results in several areas. In particular, he highlighted stronger …
TIRANA, April 3 – The head of Albania’s Prosecutors Association, Gezim Spahiu, held a series of meetings in the United States this week. He met North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby and US Attorney Robert Higdon Jr. He then continued talks with Jordan Ford, head of financial crimes …
TIRANA. April 3 – Today marks 19 years since the United Nations Security Council debated the Ahtisaari plan. On 3 April 2007, UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari presented the proposal behind closed doors. The plan aimed to grant Kosova supervised independence. At the time, authorities expected President Fatmir Sejdiu to …
The International Commission on Missing Persons has gathered evidence of a series of sites believed to have been used by Albania’s Communist regime to bury the bodies of political opponents, and is calling on the authorities to launch excavations. Original post Here
TIRANA, April 3 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu met with the chief of the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, Klodjan Braho, to discuss the functioning of Albania’s justice system. The talks focused on inter-institutional cooperation in key areas. Gogu highlighted improving the legal framework, strengthening institutional capacities, providing infrastructure support, and increasing …
TIRANA, April 3 – The customs point in Saranda is set to become more efficient and functional. The director general of customs, Besmir Beja, highlighted the importance of strengthening operations at the site. Staff were urged to maintain high standards, follow procedures, and cooperate closely across structures. The goal is …
TIRANA, April 3 – The Royal Illyrian Tombs of Lower Selca attract scholars and tourists each year. They are located in the Mokra region, between Pogradec and Korça in southeastern Albania. The site is one of the Balkans’ most significant archaeological complexes. It was discovered accidentally during the communist era. …
TIRANA, April 3 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari confirmed that Albanian police have increased security measures at critical sites for some time. He spoke during a press briefing addressing the US embassy’s recent security advisory. Lamallari said the embassy notice is standard and mirrors similar alerts in other countries, including …
Before the 1990s, Albania did not treat tourism as a strong economic sector. The government mainly used it as propaganda to show foreign visitors the achievements of the communist state. During the regime, few foreigners entered Albania. The government strictly controlled visits after World War II. Officials monitored not only …