Public Perceptions of Corruption in Balkans Continue to Worsen: Report
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index makes grim reading for most Balkan countries, with Kosovo and Albania as rare exceptions to a worsening trend. Original post Here
Tirana Mayor Arrested on Corruption and Money-Laundering Charges
The mayor of Albania’s capital, Erion Veliaj, a key figure in the ruling Socialist Party, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering. Original post Here
Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj arrested on corruption charges
TIRANA, Feb. 10, 2025 – The mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was arrested Monday afternoon by order of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). Judicial police officers entered Veliaj’s office at around 2 p.m. and escorted him to a detention facility. An arrest warrant has also …
Vetvendosje wins Kosovo elections, loses comfortable majority
Feb 10, 2025 The Vetvendosje Party led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti has claimed victory in the round of general elections held in Kosovo on February 9. With around 90 percent of the ballots counted, VV has reached about 41 percent whereas the opposition parties achieved lower figures of 22 …
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
TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s property revaluation scheme has saved taxpayers €120.5 million in fiscal costs during the first seven months of 2026, according to the General Directorate of Taxation. The scheme allows property owners to revalue real estate by paying a reduced 5% tax rate. Tax authorities said the …
TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s Finance Ministry has started preliminary preparations for a new Eurobond issue planned for 2027 as the country’s macroeconomic indicators continue to show positive performance. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said officials discussed recent macroeconomic developments, government borrowing plans in international capital markets and future cooperation …
TIRANA, August 6 – Kosova’s Assembly suspended its constitutive session after Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti requested more time for political talks on a candidate for the country’s next president. Kurti told lawmakers that additional time was necessary to allow negotiations to continue. He said the parties needed more time to …
TIRANA, August 6 – The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy continued work during the first seven months of 2026 on strategic projects in roads, energy, water supply and transport. The investments aim to improve public services, strengthen energy security and support economic development. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi …
TIRANA, August 6 – Tirana’s Grand Park hosted The Coffee Cantata on Wednesday evening. The concert featured an Albanian-language performance of the satirical work by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The event formed part of the “Bah… Café!” project with the support of the Municipality of Tirana. It combined classical …
TIRANA, August 6 – August has brought the peak of the tourist season to Theth, one of the most visited destinations in the Albanian Alps. Around 2,000 tourists stay in the village each night on average, and most of them are foreign visitors. Besides the Grunas Waterfall and the Alp’s …
TIRANA, August 6 – The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced that closing statements in the trial against former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi and four others will take place in mid-September. The court scheduled the hearings for September 10, 11 and 14. The case involves Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni …
TIRANA, August 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a handwritten message on social media with four key words: “trust, empathy, service, commitment”. Rama shared the message weeks after presenting the political document “Besa” [Good Faith]. He described the platform as a new effort to restore trust between citizens and …
TIRANA, August 6 – President Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary edition of the Ulqin Book Fair in Montenegro. The event is considered one of the region’s most important cultural gatherings and brings together authors, publishers and readers from Montenegro, Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia and other …
TIRANA, August 6 – Despite technological developments, social media and wider access to online information, the number of visitors to the National Library’s “Sotir Kolea” Center continues to grow, even during the hot summer days. The increasing number of visitors shows that the love for books and the need for …