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According to Kremlin, Putin drew attention to Kosovo’s President over Serbia

Russian President Vladimir Putin had a brief conversation with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Paris, Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s Minister calls on EU to keep its word on visa liberalisation

Kosovo’s Minister of the European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, called as ‘irrational’ dilemmas of some of the EU members related to visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens. She said that such dilemmas seriously harm EU’s credibility. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s Parliament Speaker to ask Finland's support on visas, Interpol membership

Speaker of Kosovo Parliament, Kadri Veseli, has travelled on Tuesday to Finland as part of his lobbying tour in the EU member countries to get support on visa liberalisation and country’s membership in Interpol. Veseli in Finland is expected to meet highest state officials. Original post Here

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Serbia should support Kosovo’s Interpol membership, says opposition leader

Isa Mustafa, leader of the biggest opposition party in Kosovo, LDK, says it would be good for Serbia to support Kosovo’s membership in Interpol. Original post Here

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Kosovo Parliament urgent session postponed

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Xhavit Haliti, has decided to call off Tuesday’s extraordinary session of Parliament due to procedural issues. Original post Here

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UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo report tomorrow

The UN Security Council will convene on Wednesday in New York to discuss regular report on Kosovo by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres despite request of some of the permanent countries the quarterly report on Kosovo be removed from regular agenda. Original post Here

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EP Rapporteur: Apartheid with visas in Kosovo should not be allowed

Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur for Kosovo, Igor Solted, said that “apartheid with visas for Kosovo should not be allowed.” Original post Here

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Kosovo’s PM admits he was invited to become part of Serbia’s partition plot

Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, says President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic is luring politicians in Pristina to consider giving Serbia northern part of Kosovo populated mainly by Serbs, in exchange of recognition of country’s independence. Original post Here

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Kosovo asks Germany’s support on visa liberalisation, dialogue with Serbia

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, has travelled to Berlin, when he will meet senior German officials to discuss visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo. Original post Here

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No official confirmation on Thaci-Putin meeting, according to Russian news agency

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in a Tweet on Monday announced that he held a brief conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris. But Russian news agency Tass reports that the Kremlin made no announcements about the meeting. 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