BIRN Reality Check: With Its Mayor Behind Bars, Stasis Grips Albania’s Capital
Awaiting trial on graft charges, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj has fought hard to maintain his position after the Albanian government tried to dismiss him – but how is the city being governed while he’s in a cell? Original post Here
EU Presses Parliament Over Deputy PM Immunity
Albania’s choice now will signal whether it is converging with that standard or drifting toward a system where, as Orwell warned, all are equal, but some remain more equal than others. Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The European Union has publicly urged the Albanian Parliament to address without delay …
Is A Storm Gathering Over Justice in Albania?
By Zef Preçi Tirana Times, 09 February 2026 – The campaign that Albania’s ruling Socialist Party appears to be preparing against the Special Anti Corruption Structure (SPAK) raises serious concerns not only about the future of the rule of law in the country but also about the credibility of Albania’s …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 9, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
How “Diella” Was Used by the Russian Pravda Network to Spread Disinformation
By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – In early December, a Croatian satirical outlet published a humorous article claiming that Albania’s AI minister had been arrested after allegedly accepting a bribe worth 14 bitcoins. The satire quickly went viral online, but it was subsequently misinterpreted as factual information …
The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania
Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the …
Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia
by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian propaganda relies on several recurring narratives that exploit domestic political tensions and social vulnerabilities. The impact of Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans is neither new …
Deputy Prime Minister Resuspended By Court Ruling
Parliament now expected to lift immunity. Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Constitutional Court’s decision to leave in force the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Belinda Balluku has reopened a deep institutional conflict in Albania, sharpening tensions between the executive, the judiciary, and Parliament, while placing …
Week in Review: Saviours, Crypto Fugitives and Unlikely Friendships
A Canadian on the run in Bosnia, an Albanian’s controversial jaunt to Israel and a Brit looking to the Balkans for possible salvation – this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories has an international flavour. Original post Here
Albanian PM’s Private Jet Trip to Israel Raises Transparency Questions
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here
Ukraine welcomes Albania’s ‘demonstration of solidarity’ in blocking the ‘Hanuman’ tanker, whose operator, it believes, is linked to Kremlin allies. Original post Here
The 13th edition of “KoKo Fest,” the International Comedy Festival, has closed in Korçë after ten days of theatre, comedy and artistic performances. The festival brought together nine theatre companies from Albania and the region, which filled the southeastern city with performances, humor and artistic energy. Throughout the festival, audiences …
Preparations for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Albania have entered another important phase. Today, UEFA representatives began inspecting the stadiums that will host matches during the tournament. They started their tour at “Loro Boriçi” Stadium in Shkodër. The delegation will then visit “Elbasan Arena” before continuing to Tirana. …
President Bajram Begaj has signed a decree dismissing Evis Sala as Minister of Health and Social Welfare, appointing Klodiana Spahiu as her successor. “Today, the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, decreed the dismissal of Ms. Evis Sala as Minister of Health and Social Welfare. He also decreed the appointment …
Albania will see stable weather conditions on Tuesday, with clear skies across the country. High atmospheric pressure will continue to dominate, keeping skies mostly clear and temperatures relatively high across most areas. According to MeteoAlb, clouds will increase slightly in the afternoon and later in the day. They will be …
Albanian footballers enjoyed another positive week in international leagues. Several national team players played key roles for their clubs, scoring goals and delivering strong performances. Rey Manaj, Kristjan Asllani, Ernest Muçi, Taulant Seferi, Cristian Shpendi and Bujar Pllana all found the net. Their goals helped their teams secure important results. …
The rich heritage of local traditions and folklore is drawing growing interest at the Ethnographic Museum this early autumn. Local and foreign visitors are showing particular interest in the area’s history, traditions and way of life over the years. Tour guides say interest in the city’s museums continues to grow. …
Apollonia attracts visitors throughout the year, while summer brings its largest tourist crowds. Around 92,000 tourists visited the Apollonia Archaeological Park from January through August. The figure marks a 5% increase compared with the same period last year. Visitors now come from every corner of the world, although Europeans make …
Kruja Castle remains one of Albania’s leading cultural tourism destinations. Every day, it attracts both domestic and international visitors. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage Monday morning showing “daily life at Kruja Castle.” The images show tourists exploring one of Albania’s most important historical heritage sites. The castle stands on …
Tirana offers plenty of options for visitors even on rainy days. From museums and cultural venues to New Bazaar and the cafés and restaurants of Blloku, visitors can explore the Albanian capital through indoor activities that combine history, culture and gastronomy. French travel media Generation Voyage highlighted these options in …