The two arrested after the opposition protest are released from prison
The Tirana court released two protesters arrested on Monday after the Democratic Party protest. Jakup Stafa and Dorison Petoku were left in the “obligation to appear” security measure. We remind you that after Monday’s protest, two people were put in handcuffs, one was prosecuted and another was declared wanted. At …
The protest is closed, the opposition will gather again on March 3
The opposition protest is closed after two and a half hours in front of the Parliament. The protesters left the Assembly and went to the blue headquarters together with Berisha and other MPs who have been excluded from the plenary sessions. So, in parallel, the planning session is being held, …
McGonigal’s Albanian ‘Adventure’ Demands a Deeper Investigation
If US justice keep the McGonigal scandal under wraps, limiting the charges to ‘non-disclosure’ of certain relationships, its squeaky-clean reputation could be tarnished. Original post Here
Fier, three arrested on drug charges
Three people have been handcuffed this Wednesday after they converted a 3-story villa into a “bari house” in Fier. Police revealed that the arrested are the owner of the villa, Erjon Marini alias Xhevair Gashi, who had adapted the 5 rooms of one floor for the cultivation of narcotic plants, …
Shkodra hospital’s director refutes claims of ambulance delay in house fire
Director of Shkodra’s Regional Hospital, Senad Halluni, has reacted to the claims of the residents of the Roma community about the delay of the ambulance regarding the event of Tuesday evening, where a 60-year-old man lost his life and his wife was taken to the hospital after the barracks where …
Two men arrested for dealing drugs near schools
Tirana police has arrested two people this Wednesday, who were distributing narcotics near schools in Kamëz: Xh. K., 23 years old and A. Th., 28 years old, both residents of the area. During the physical check, citizens Xh. K. was found with 15 doses of suspected narcotic substance cannabis sativa, …
Parliament to decide amount of funding for political parties; CEC’s head
Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi, spoke about the conditions that political parties must meet in order to receive funds for the electoral campaign, adding that the Parliament will decide how much money the political parties will receive. In a press conference, he emphasized that this will …
Missing for 6 months, SPAK operation to seize the assets of Ervis Martinaj
ABCNEWS has learned that SPAK has launched an action to seizure Vis Martinaj’s assets. From preliminary data, the assets of the businessman, who has been missing for more than six months, have been targeted. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that these assets have been identified by the investigations launched by the …
Scapegoating: UK Immigration Policy Rests on Villifying Albanians
The UK’s alarmist, inflammatory rhetoric on Albanian migrants ignores the real reasons why people are fleeing, and washes its hands of the vulnerable groups among them. Original post Here
Concerns Raised in Albania over Ruling Party ‘Communications’ App
There is growing concern in Albania over the privacy of an app offered by the ruling Socialist Party and, with local elections approaching, whether it really is as ‘voluntary’ as the party claims. Original post Here
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