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Accused for abuse of duty/ Vangjush Dako to appear before the court

The former mayor of Durrës, Vangjush Dako, appears today before the Special Court. The session will take place at 10:00, where the security measure will be introduced. Along with Dako, several other officials of the Municipality as well as a builder were arrested, while three others were left under house …

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Alibeaj: Democratic Party must elect a chairman as soon as possible

Enkelejd Alibeaj says that the Democratic Party should take the full form of its operation, an hour earlier. In the outer premises of the Assembly, Alibeaj told the journalists that the chairman of the Democratic Party should be elected as soon as possible. “It will take an hour or so …

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Tensions in Democratic Party leadership/ Basha: I distance myself from violence

Lulzim Basha, in a statement for the media, spoke about the tensions between the MPs and his supporters after the Democratic Party leadership meeting. Asked by journalists about the tensions, Basha said that there was no violence while adding that threats or fighting against different opinions are not his model. …

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Rama: I handed over to Macron and Scholz the confidential document for association

Prime Minister Edi Rama has considered the situation in North of Kosovo to be an alarming situation. At the press conference, Rama revealed that he has handed over to President Macron and Chancellor Scholz the document for the formation of the association, considering it as the Gordian knot between Kosovo …

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“The proposal for the Association”/ Rama: Contribution to continue the dialogue

Prime Minister Edi Rama says that his proposal for the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo is a contribution to continue the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. In a press conference from the Prime Minister’s Office, Rama stated that Kosovo and Serbia are not agreeing on the …

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Yuri Kim meets with the Director of the State Intelligence Service

The American ambassador, Yuri Kim, congratulated Vlora Hysen for the position as director of the Albanian Information Service. In a meeting they held today, the American diplomat and Hyseni talked about the importance of cooperation between Albania and the USA in national security. 1/2 @USAmbAlbania Yuri Kim today visited Vlora Hyseni, …

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Vangjush Dako denies all accusations for abuse of duty

The former mayor of Durres, Vangjush Dako, has denied the accusations of SPAK. Regarding the building that the prosecution says was granted permission in violation of the law, Dako told the court that he has no knowledge, and he doesn’t even know how many floors it has. Furthermore, he also …

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Op/Ed: Who are the parties for?

A series of concerts, celebrations and parties are springing up in Albania now that the local elections have wrapped up and the party in majority has clearly won them. In a process of expressing gratitude to the voters the Socialist Party is organizing a series of celebratory parties in addition …

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Violence outside the Democratic Party meeting, reacts Basha

The former leader of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, reacted after the debates and violence that happened the night before at the leadership meeting. Through a post on social networks, Basha writes that it was a constructive debate, where he emphasizes that it is a clear sign of a deep …

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Arrest of Dako, Ngjela: The legal issue is complicated

Lawyer Spartak Ngjela this Wednesday in an interview to “Tirana Live” commented on the arrest of the former mayor of Durrës, Vangjush Dako. In his speech, Ngjela stated that the issue of the arrest of the former mayor is complicated, since according to him, it should be examined in detail …

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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

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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

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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

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Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

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 …

News
Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

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

News
We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

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

News
Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

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 …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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

News
Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

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

News
Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

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 …

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

Local roads, national standards: Tropojë case tests Albania’s procurement and oversight

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 …

News

Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

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

News

We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

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

News

Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

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 …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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

News

Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

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

News

Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

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 …