Thaci: Specialist Chambers will not be revoked
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci said on Thursday that the Law on Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecution Office will not be abolished. He made this comment when answering to journalists’ questions on the initiative of Kosovo MPs to abrogate the law on war crimes set to try alleged crimes of the …
Naser Kelmendi sentenced to six years imprisonment for selling drugs, cleared of murder charges
The alleged Balkan drug baron, Naser Kelmendi, has been sentenced to six years in prison for selling and trafficking narcotics but was cleared of murder charges. The verdict on Kelmendi’s case was given on Thursday. Original post Here
Serb Gendarmerie arrests two Kosovars
Two Kosovo Albanians have been arrested by Serbian gendarmerie at the village Llaushe of Podujeva near the border with Serbia, the Kosovo Police have confirmed. Original post Here
President Thaci commends EULEX but says it is time for Kosovo to take the lead
President Hashim Thaci addressed the media ahead of the tenth anniversary of Independence and mentioned Kosovo’s achievements during the first decade as an independent country. He said that Kosovo maintained cooperation with all mechanisms present in Kosovo. Original post Here
German Foreign Minister visits Kosovo on 7 February
German Foreign Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, will visit Kosovo on 7 February. During his official visit to Pristina he will meet Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and other senior state officials, chief of cabinet of the Kosovo Prime Minister, Avni Arifi, confirmed on Thursday. Original post Here
PM Haradinaj obtains United Kingdom visa
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has obtained a UK visa. Avni Arifi, chief of cabinet of the Prime Minister, confirmed the news to Gazeta Express. Original post Here
Thaci: Kosovo doesn't forget Serbia’s genocide but we are committed to peace
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci during an interview with the Croatian state broadcaster HRT said that the dialogue on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia lead the Western Balkans towards the EU future. Original post Here
US congressmen nominate Natasa Kandic for Nobel Prize
Two US congressmen have nominated Natasa Kandic and the Humanitarian Law Center NGO for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Voice of America reported this on Thursday. Original post Here
Spain says Kosovo can only join EU as region of Serbia
Madrid is not giving up its stance on blocking the EU integration of Kosovo, the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti writes adding that Spain will agree to Kosovo in the EU – but only as a region of Serbia. Original post Here
Pacolli confirms Rita Ora to perform in Kosovo for 10th anniversary
Rumors have been looming around lately concerning the possibility of the return of Kosovo’s most beloved superstar, Rita Ora, for the 10th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. Original post Here
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 …
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
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
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
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