Beleri letter to Himara from cell: I was prevented from taking the duty. I still believe in the power of truth
Fredi Beleri addressed a letter from the cell to Himara, while today the Municipal Council is constituted, resulting from the May 14 elections. We remind you that a day ago the Special Court rejected the request of Fredi Beleri, who asked to go this Tuesday before the Municipal Council and …
SPAK issues 20 arrest warrants, 14 arrested
By order of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, 14 people were arrested, accused of drug trafficking. The operation is still ongoing and it is learned that 20 orders have been issued. It is learned that the operation was carried out in cooperation with Italian authorities, in several cities such as Tirana, …
Rama in Brussels, hosted by Ursula von der Leyen
During his stay in Brussels, Prime Minister Edi Rama was received this Tuesday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting with von der Leyen of the head of the government follows the one with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, the details …
Meeting with Borrell, Rama: Kurti and Vucic should not leave the conference without an agreement
Prime Minister Edi Rama hold a press conference together with the representative of the EU, Josep Borrel, after the meeting they had in Brussels. Rama first said that he feels good when he hears good words about the country’s process, as a result of the reforms. He added that he …
Drug trafficking’s operation, SPAK: The group operated in Syria, Turkey and Macedonia, among arrested a policeman
SPAK prosecutor, Vladimir Mara, in a press conference, gave details about the police operation where a criminal group distributing narcotics in several European countries was destroyed. In his speech, Mara stated that the group operated from Syria in several other countries in the EU, including Albania, were involved in drug …
Waiting Game: Afghan Refugees Stuck in Albania Long for America
Afghan refugees who came to Albania in 2021, expecting to move quickly on to the US, are finding their prolonged stay in the Balkan country frustrating. Original post Here
New details unveiled on Vlora’s monday shooting
New details have been learned this Tuesday about yesterday’s event in Vlora, where 33-year-old Tonin Rama was injured. It is suspected that there were 3 perpetrators, while only two of them shot several times at Tonin, injuring him in the leg. Perpetrators have not yet been identified, while the police …
Grenade attack on North Mitrovica municipality
Building of the North Mitrovica municipality was attacked with hand grenades during Tuesday night, while the Kosovo Police announced that some material damage was caused to two official cars. “In the late hours of the evening, a suspect attacked the Municipality in the North of Mitrovica with an explosive device. …
Murder and relations with the company that has a concession for Fier’s incinerator, two Albanians are extradited from Greece and Germany
Two Albanians convicted in Greece and Germany have been extradited to Albania. Mihal Merkuri is sentenced to 10 years for intentional homicide. Whereas, Silvester Driza, has founded a company Sh.p.k. and has carried out several fictitious transactions with the company that has the concession of the Fier incinerator. “The cooperation …
Man arrested by SPAK for ordering execution
Albert Pashaj was arrested this Tuesday by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), after being accused of paying Henrik Hoxhajn and Skerdi Tase to kill Aredin Behari. Local media reported that Pashaj had ordered the murder of Behar for property reasons, but the assassination attempt …
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
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
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
Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …
The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here
Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here
Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 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
The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here
Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …