SPAK closes investigations into the criminal group
SPAK has closed the investigations and sent for trial 23 people accused of cannabis cultivation and criminal group. According to the investigations, the narcotic substance was found planted in the mountainous areas of Shkodra, while another part of it was in the process of drying. In total, it is about …
Digital Rights Review: Crypto Scams and Cyberattacks Cause Disruption and Alarm
Over the past month, fake articles using logos similar to those of legitimate media, including BIRN’s Reporting Democracy site, were used as part of a cryptocurrency scam, while Croatia was subjected to widespread cyberattacks affecting critical infrastructure. Original post Here
Abandoned Beaches? Albanians Trade Blame Over ‘Failing’ Tourist Season
Images of empty sun loungers on the Albanian riviera are prompting a round of finger-pointing, with the PM blaming ‘absurd’ prices – and others citing competition from neighbouring countries and lack of a strategy. Original post Here
Olympics Marred by Online Hate Speech Targeting LGBTQ+ People
The Paris Olympics was a thrilling sporting spectacle – but the opening ceremony and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif became the focus for abuse on social media that also targeted the LGBTQ+ community. Original post Here
Tirana/ A 24-year-old woman was hit with a glass bottle in a bar, two wanted
A fight happened in the premises of a bar in Tirana a day ago. Three young girls have conflicted with each other. According to the Tirana police, it is suspected that after the fight, two 28-year-old citizens hit the 24-year-old in the face with a glass bottle. The two 28-year-old …
The murder of the elderly, the two asylum nurses are arrested
The Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana has arrested the head nurse and the nurse of the private nursing home for the elderly “Ruaje olda”, who were at work when the crime was recorded in the early hours of this morning. The identity of the nurses is still unknown, as it is …
Tirana, a 78-year-old in asylum beats to death his roommate with a cane
A 78-year-old man was arrested this Thursday in Tirana. According to preliminary information, the elderly man, Zyhdi Shehu, who lived in a private asylum for the elderly, hit his 82-year-old roommate several times with a cane. As a result, the 82-year-old citizen Virgjil Veshi passed away. The 78-year-old is accused …
A 31 year old arrested for attempted murder
A 31-year-old man has been arrested by the police after being accused of the criminal offenses of “Deliberate murder”, carried out in cooperation, remaining in the attempt, and “Unauthorized production and possession of weapons, explosive weapons and ammunition”. The police of Dibra clarifies that the 31-year-old was wanted because it …
AIIS discusses Albania-Germany relations with Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann
TIRANA, Aug. 7, 2024 – Representatives of the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) participated in a meeting where Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann discussed key issues with Albanian civil society representatives and other actors. Accompanied by a delegation, the interior minister of Germany’s wealthiest and largest-by-area federative state had …
Organized criminal group/ SPAK closes the investigations, 11 accused
The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigations and sent the criminal group with at least 11 people for trial. Among whom is Erzen Breçani and former crime boss Dedan Gjoni. In the official announcement SPAK clarifies that this criminal group is involved in international narcotics trafficking, where each member …
The Democratic League of Kosovo has filed 17 lawsuits in a fresh legal challenge against the outgoing prime minister, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, and his ministers. Original post Here
Anonymous social media accounts, a lack of financial transparency and the unethical use of AI could have an impact on voter opinion ahead of Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election, BIRN has found. Original post Here
In an interview with BIRN, Zef Mazi, Albania’s former chief negotiator with the EU, poured cold water on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s election promise of EU accession by 2030. Original post Here
TIRANA, Albania , May 6th (Tirana Times ) — On May 11, Albanians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections marked by a crowded field of contenders: 53 political parties and over 2,000 candidates will vie for 140 seats in the national legislature. While this diversity may signal political …
President Begaj welcomes His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a solemn ceremony. May 2, 2025 | TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times In a visit marked more by symbolism than substance, Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrived in Tirana on Friday for …
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …
Press freedom has continued a downward slide in most Balkan countries according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders – although Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have bucked the trend. Original post Here
Genc Pollo – President of the Paneuropa Albania MovementFormer Minister and MP April 2025 “Whatever the European Court decides—if it says it can’t be done, we won’t do it; if it says it can, we will.” This was, roughly speaking, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s stance in March 2023, expressed at …
An in-depth investigation into the EU-backed trans-Balkan transport project that remains stalled decades after its launch. Over two decades ago, European planners and Balkan leaders laid out the idea off Corridor VIII, a transport route that would traverse and link the difficult-to-navigate terrains of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Its …