Gjiknuri in SPAK: Tirana-Elbasan among the most abusive projects
The General Secretary of the Socialist Party, Damian Gjiknuri, stated that he has appeared in SPAK to testify about one of the biggest abuses on the Tirana-Elbasan road, which according to him was contracted to be built with a value that started with 240 million euros and ended with 400 …
Earthquake tremors in Albania
Earthquake tremors were recorded a few moments ago in Albania. It is learned that the epicenter of the earthquake was in the village of Mjekës, about 7 km from Elbasan, while the tremors were recorded with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale. The tremors were felt in several …
President Begaj host Lord Stuart Peach
The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, received today the Special Envoy of the British Government for the Western Balkans, Lord Stuart Peach. President Begaj praised the great attention that the British government pays to the Western Balkans region, as well as hailed Lord Peach’s role in promoting strong democratic …
Sentenced to 8 years in prison, an Albanian is arrested in Italy
In Rinas, it has become possible to capture an Albanian sentenced to eight years in prison in Italy for several crimes. The police inform that the arrested person is Dritan Hyka (Asimaj), from Vlora. The procedures to extradite him to Italy will now begin. Internationally wanted, sentenced to 8 years …
SPAK won’t adjudicate January 21 protest killings’ lawsuits
Lawsuits on the “January 21” murders by the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja and the Socialist Party (SP), will be reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana. Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) declared incompetence and transferred the reports to the Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation. The …
Albanian FA troops in Turkey rescue a 5-year-old child
The Albanian search and rescue forces in Turkey are working against the rubble and the freezing weather. It is reported that the Albanian FA troops saved the life of a 5-year-old child and pulled out 6 dead bodies from the ruins. “Or FA troops have been working for hours, non-stop, …
Number of Albanians with residence permits in Greece falls
Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum published data on the issuance of residence permits for foreign immigrants living in Greece, most of whom are immigrants from Albania. According to official data in the month of December 2022, there are 285,842 Albanian immigrants with residence permits in Greece, which make up …
Albanian arrested in Italy for cocaine shipment
Over 60 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a container of bananas have been discovered in Italy. Local media write that the shipment of bananas, in which the narcotic substance was found, came from Ecuador. An Albanian citizen, whose identity is not known, ended up in handcuffs for the shipment. He …
SPAK officially investigates Fatmir Mediu for “Gërdec”
The Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime submitted the request for trial for the former minister, Fatmir Mediu. Mediu is accused of the criminal offense “Abuse of duty” committed in cooperation, as well as for the commission of the criminal offense “Abuse of duty” in cooperation with a …
Another lawsuit? Shkëlzen Berisha in SPAK
15 years after the tragedy with 28 victims in Gërdec, Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, seems to be facing a new lawsuit, from the new justice. While SPAK decided to send for trial Fatmir Mediu, at that time Minister of Defense, the Special Prosecutor’s Office …
From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here
In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here
Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here
Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …
Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here
June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …
By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania 20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here
by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …