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Kosovo Police interviews secretary of Ivanovic’s party

Silvana Arsovic, Secretary of the Civic Initiative ‘SDP’, which was led by late Kosovo Serb political leader Oliver Ivanovic, has been interviewed by the Kosovo Police. Last Friday the police have arrested four people suspected of their involvement on killing of Ivanovic who was shot dead in front of his …

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Albanian PM Rama Urges Serbia ‘Down To Earth' Policy Towards Kosovo

Governments of Kosovo and Albania during a joint meeting which is taking place in Peja have signed several agreements. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama considers today’s meeting as the most important for the two governments. He also referred to Kosovo Government’s decision to impose 100 percent customs fee in Serbia’s …

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Kosovo-Albania agree to remove roaming fees, unify customs clearance procedures

Governments of Kosovo and Albania gathered today in Peja to discuss cooperation and signed several agreements aimed at removing existing barriers between the two countries. Original post Here

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Kosovo’ will not remove tax until full normalization with Serbia, Arifi says

Chief of Staff of the Kosovo Prime Minister’s Office, Avni Arifi, said that the decision for imposing 100 percent tax on all Serbia’s goods will not be revoked until full normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Original post Here

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EU Commissioner Hahn urges Kosovo, Serbia to work on de-escalation of situation

EU-Commissioner for European Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn following today’s development in Kosovo and Government’s decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Serbia’s goods spoke over phone with president of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. Original post Here

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No incidents during Kosovo Serb protest

Hundreds of Serbs protested on Friday in Mitrovica North and other localities inhabited by Serbs over Pristina decision to increase import taxes for goods from Serbia to 100 percent. The protest has ended without incidents. Original post Here

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Kosovo Serb Party supports police operation in the north

The Kosovo Serb Party headed by ex-Kosovo Minister Aleksandar Jablanovic, has supported Friday’s operation of the Kosovo Police in Mitrovica North resulting with the arrest of four people suspected of killing Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

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KFOR does not have to comment Serbia’s President statements, a spokesperson says

KFOR does not have to comment Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement and reiterated that this morning a Kosovo Police operation has been conducted in northern Kosovo, based on a warrant issued by Pristina’s prosecutor. Original post Here

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Thaci-Vucic plan on partition of Kosovo in action

The Kosovo Police (KP) operation in northern part of Kosovo resulting in arrest of four Serbs suspected of their involvement in Oliver Ivanovic’s killing contains the signature of President of Kosovo. He wants to keep Serb-controlled northern part of the country under continuous tensions at any cost. Original post Here

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KFOR: Police action in north to bring suspects to justice

KFOR spokesperson said on Friday they were informed about the Kosovo police Special ROSU unit operation in Mitrovica North, adding the reason was bringing to justice four people suspected of involvement in Oliver Ivanovic’s murder. Original post Here

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Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

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Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

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Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

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Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

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Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

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Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

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Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

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Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

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Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

News

Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

News

Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

News

Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

News

Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

News

Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

News

Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here