In Local Polls, Albania’s Socialists Face Opposition in Disarray
Campaign policies are in short supply ahead of Albania’s May 14 local elections, in which the ruling Socialists face a Democratic Party split in two. Original post Here
Fredi Beleri, the candidate for Himara Municipality is arrested
Fredi Beleri, the candidate of the “Bashkë Fitojmë” coalition for the municipality of Himara, was arrested. He was escorted shortly after midnight to the premises of the police department of Vlora. Sources told ABC News that Beleri was arrested on the charge of buying and selling votes. He was escorted …
The car of the Russian embassy in Tirana crashes, one person dies, another is injured
The police have provide details of the serious accident that happened yesterday evening in the area of Sauk in Tirana, where the vehicle of the Russian embassy was involved. The car collided with the metal road banner, went off the road and then hit the curb. As a result of …
LGBT Watchdog Chides Balkan, Central Europe Countries for Rights Setbacks
ILGA-Europe, in its latest annual report and rankings, singled out Serbia and Turkey for backsliding in the field of LGBTI rights. Original post Here
Duda: Albania deserves to be part of the EU as soon as possible
The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, is in our country this Thursday, where he is conducting an official visit. Duda is the first Polish president after 20 years to visit our country, who in his speech has emphasized that it is important that his visit has already …
Cannabis plot with about 500 plants found in Shkodra
A plot of cannabis, consisting of about 500 seddlings has been discovered this Thursday morning in a public property in the village of Ashtë of Shkodra, along the banks of Drin river. According to the police, the narcotic plants were found during drone controls, carried out in the framework of …
Today in Tirana, Polish president welcomed with a state ceremony by Begaj
The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda will visit Albania today where he will be welcomed by President Bajram Begaj. After the state welcome ceremony, the two presidents will hold a special meeting and then at 12:20 they are expected to hold a joint press conference. In the second part of …
Lezha young man busted with nearly 50 kilos of drugs
A 28-year-old man has been arrested this Thursday by Lezha Police on the charges of narcotic substances’ transportation. During the operation coded “Gurra”, the police detained citizen Elton Qarku, 28 years old, who was transporting about 48.5 kilograms of cannabis narcotics divided into 12 packages, ready for dealing. In the …
CEC head’s letter on electoral crimes’ prevention to law enforcement
Head of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi has addressed a letter to the Prosecutor General, Olsian Çela, the head of the Special Prosecution against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK), Altin Dumani, as well as the Director General of the State Police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku. In his letter, Celibashi requests …
Mayor Veliaj meets Tirana suburbs’ residents ahead of local polls
Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj and socialist MP, Xhemal Qefalia, met this Thursday with the residents of Tufina, Fresk, Dajti, Zall-Herri, Shëngjergji and Zall Bastari, from where he thanked everyone who joined the Socialist Party’s (SP) the electoral campaign. During the gathering, Veliaj said that this was indeed a model …
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …
Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here