Analysis: Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj’s arrest on corruption charges likely to have major political implications for ruling party
TIRANA, Feb. 10, 2025 – The arrest on Monday of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on corruption charges has sent shockwaves through Albania’s political landscape, with major potential implications for the ruling Socialist Party just three months ahead of parliamentary elections. Veliaj, long regarded as a close ally of Prime Minister …
Albania Opposition Leader Hires Trump Campaign Manager
Democratic Party says it is ‘honoured’ that Chris LaCivita, co-manager of Donald Trump’s successful campaign for the US presidency, will lead the party’s campaign for the May parliamentary elections. Original post Here
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Albania organizes the event “International Arabian Leopard Day”
Saudi Embassy Leads Efforts to Protect the Endangered Arabian Leopard The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Albania, in collaboration with the Municipality of Tirana and the Zoological Garden, took a leading role in raising awareness about the conservation of the Arabian leopard—one of the world’s rarest species. …
Bird-Hunting Tourism Threatens to Wipe Out Balkan Quails
Routine use of illegal ‘lures’ by visiting European hunters who love to shoot migrating birds in the Balkans is pushing some species to the brink – while weak policing allows the crime to continue unchecked, conservationists warn. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 10, 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
Balkan Cold Cases #3: Young Men Killed in Crackdown as Albanian Communism Fell
When police attacked the first demonstrations against Albania’s repressive communist regime in April 1991, four students were killed. The officials who were initially convicted were amnestied, and there has never been a proper investigation into what happened. Original post Here
‘Lifeless’: Pollution Threatens the Drin and its Tributaries in Three Balkan States
Without concerted action, pollution threatens to leave the Drin River and its main tributaries “lifeless”, environmentalists in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia warn. Original post Here
Albania’s Marginalised Small Parties Spy Opportunity in 2025 Elections
In a system that favours the two big players, their smaller rivals have traditionally stood no chance – but might things be different in the looming May 2025 elections? Original post Here
Albanian Politician’s Arrest Lays Bare Organised Crime’s Electoral Influence
Corruption charges against a former MP of the ruling Socialist Party represent a case study in the transactional relationship between organised crime and politics in Albania, a relationship with the power to tip the electoral scales, experts say. Original post Here
Albanian Cannabis Gangs Exploit Poverty to Hire Female Day Labourers
Women from impoverished parts of Albania are being lured into work as day labourers on illegal cannabis plantations; if caught, they face paying a high price for what their lawyers say is effectively ‘modern slavery’. Original post Here
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-351″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-351″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-2″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-352″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-352″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Tirana wakes up every day with voices from around the world, and tourists choose Albania as their holiday destination. Moreover, they fill the city with energy and movement as they …
The Tirana International Airport is expanding its international network. It is adding a new air route that connects Albania with one of the most popular Mediterranean tourist destinations. First, the airport announced the launch of the new Tirana–Palma de Mallorca route. The inaugural flight took place today. It operates in …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-353″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:16f576f1-911d-4435-be05-b61618feb3a4-353″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> From the mountains of Slovenia to the wild landscapes of Finland and the calm shores of France, some of Europe’s most beautiful lakes remain far from large tourist crowds. In this context, Lake Ohrid stands out as one of the …
Albania’s Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari, held a meeting in The Hague with Eurojust President Michael Schmid. They discussed how to strengthen cooperation against cross-border crime. During the meeting, Lamallari highlighted the strong partnership between Albania and Eurojust. Moreover, he noted that this cooperation already delivers concrete results in complex …
While millions of tourists choose Albania every year for the famous beaches of the Riviera or the lively atmosphere of Tirana, another side of the country still remains far from mass tourism. Indeed, from spectacular canyons and hidden mountain villages to untouched coves and breathtaking northern landscapes, these destinations offer …
Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said Albania aligns its communication networks with EU standards. Moreover, he stressed a clear goal: modern fiber networks to end users and 5G coverage by 2030. He spoke at an event on underground urban infrastructure. In addition, he focused on removing overhead cables …
The “Urban Renaissance 2.0” program, set to be presented in early July, will address issues in water supply and sewage systems. Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke about the initiative during an event with local government leaders. Moreover, he described it as a large-scale program with strategic importance for communities across …
The Puppet Theatre is ready to begin its summer tour across Albania. First, the National Center for Children’s Culture announced the program through its director Melsi Qirici on social media. The tour will bring children’s performances to several cities across the country. In addition, the program includes popular shows such …
Amid continuing street protests, Albania is coming under increasing pressure to reverse its weakening of environmental protections in the interests of ‘luxury tourism’, or risk a setback in its pursuit of EU accession. Original post Here
The Ombudsmen of Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia signed a memorandum of cooperation today in Prizren. The agreement aims to strengthen and protect citizens’ rights across borders. First, the heads of the institutions committed to turning cooperation into real benefits for citizens in all three countries. They emphasized practical protection …