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Kosovo Police arrests four people in Mitrovica North involved in Ivanovic’s case

Kosovo Police have arrested three Serbs in Mitrovica North early on Friday suspected of their involvement in murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, and one for resisting police. Two of the arrested persons are police officers. Original post Here

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KFOR refutes Serbia’s President: We have not stopped Kosovo Police to enter the north

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic during a meeting with Kosovo Serb political representatives in Belgrade stated that he had information that Pristina’s police and special forces were heading toward the north of Kosovo, mostly populated by the Serbs, and that they were allegedly stopped by KFOR. Original post Here

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Serbia’s goods that did not address Kosovo by its constitutional name removed from shelves

Municipalities of Mitrovica South, Vushtrri, Skenderaj, and Drenas have started implementation of the Government’s decision on removing from shelves all Serbia’s goods that did not address Kosovo by its constitutional name. Original post Here

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Serbia’s President Midnight Message to Kosovo

Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, appearing late on Wednesday before media in Belgrade has opposed the 100 percent tax imposed by Kosovo, asking the customs tariffs be reversed. Original post Here

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Kosovo announces reciprocity measures on Serbia’s car plates

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Fatmir Limaj, says that in addition to 100 percent customs tariffs in Serbia’s goods, authorities in Pristina are considering application of reciprocity measure with Serbia also on vehicle plates. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s EU Minister wants EU Council to vote on visas

Kosovo’s Minister of the EU Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, says she is working intensively in order for the visa liberalisation issue be included in the agenda of the EU Council meeting set to be held at the beginning of December. Hoxha currently is in Brussels, when she met senior officials of …

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EU calls on Kosovo to revoke tariffs on Serbia’s goods

EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called on Kosovo government to immediately revoke the decision on imposing a 100 percent tax on products from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a move the government said is aimed at defending the country’s vital interests. Original post Here

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UNMIK concerned after Kosovo announced duty on Serbia’s goods

UNMIK chief, Zahir Tanin, expressed his concern with the decision of the Government of Kosovo to impose a 100 per cent duty on Serbian and Bosnian goods. Original post Here

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Final Meeting of the Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board

EULEX Head of Mission Alexandra Papadopoulou hosted the final meeting of the Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board (JRCB) at the EULEX premises today. She also presented the Compact Progress Report, covering the JRCB activities from July 2017 to June 2018 and tracking the progress made by Kosovo rule of …

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Haradinaj requires Serbia label its products as ‘Republic of Kosovo’

Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, in a Facebook post confirmed that his Government took a decision that as of today to impose 100 percent customs tariffs on all goods entering from Serbia. Original post Here

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Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

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Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

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How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

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Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

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Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

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The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

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Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

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Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

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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

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

Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News

Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News

How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News

Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

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