Part of a criminal group, GJKKO left in prison former director of Lezha
Special Court has left in prison former police director of Lezha, Henrigert Mitri. He did not agree to give explanations as he is accused of debunking the anti-cannabis operations that were taking place in the Lezha region. There are suspicions that he managed the cultivation of cannabis in Lezha and …
Sali Berisha to remain under house arrest, court rejects his appeal
The Court of Special Appeals has decided to leave in force the “house arrest” security measure for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi. The former prime minister was taken as a co-defendant with Malltezi for the investigation file of the privatization of the former Partizani complex. …
Albania Ruling Party Blocks Review of Ex-Minister’s Immunity from Prosecution
Albanian MPs from the ruling Socialist Party abstained in a parliamentary vote, blocking an attempt to secure a court review of the mandate of ex-Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, who the opposition accuses of abuse of office. Original post Here
Rama gathers deputies in Elbasan to discuss about anti-corruption, disinformation and EU integration
Socialist Party gathers today for another retreat, this time in the city of Elbasan. Prime Minister Rama has gathered socialist deputies in Elbasan this Friday in an informal meeting where it is expected to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections, the integration process, anti-corruption and disinformation. The meeting is scheduled to …
School safety/Rama: We aim for “Albania 2030” to be the champion of the region in every aspect
The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, present at the presentation of measures to increase security in schools, said that the government’s vision is to continue with the increase in quality in education, but also in the safety of students and better conditions for teachers. He emphasized that today 240 …
Kingdom: A Visual Exploration of Generational Trauma at Tirana Film Festival
“Kingdom,” an innovative and visually arresting short film directed by Andres Bronimann, has earned a coveted spot among the nominees for the 2024 Tirana International Film Festival. Set to screen on September 27th at 1 PM, this thought-provoking film takes viewers on a philosophical journey, societal conditioning, and the …
Xhaçka’s mandate, socialists prevent the case from being sent to the Constitutional Court
The Assembly failed to collect the necessary votes to send to the Constitutional Court the decision on the incompatibility of the mandate of the socialist deputy Olta Xhaçka. After a marathon session in the Assembly, 65 socialist deputies abstained, 9 spoke against and 25 of the opposition voted in favor. …
Dron inside Peqin prison, were found two phones and drugs
A drone in flight was found inside the Beijing prison. It was the policemen of the outer perimeter who heard the noise of the drone and raised the alarm. After the inspection, two iPhones, 8 chargers, 33 doses of suspected narcotic cocaine, about 210 grams divided into small doses of …
Rama: People of Israel are welcome in Albania
“We are here with open arms to welcome all Israelis who want to come, tourists, entrepreneurs, artists, and writers, even those of an older age who want to have their home in the middle of Europe. In a nature where you can find everything, within a very small space like …
“Give me a Laboratory and I Will Move the World”
It was French philosopher, anthropologist, and sociologist Bruno Latour who came up with the gripping title you read above. I came across Latour’s work some months ago, and I was fascinated. Today’s piece stands on the shoulders of that work. It’s about the story of how one laboratory fundamentally changed …
Tirana Times, March 26 , 2026 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has awarded its prestigious annual “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize for 2025 to historian and translator Ilir Ikonomi, recognizing his outstanding contribution to bringing major works of international scholarship to the Albanian audience. Ilir Ikonomi received the award …
From a political spying scandal to MAGA alignment and a brewing collision with the law, selection of BIRN Premium stories this week makes for an exciting read. Original post Here
The now-notorious hacker group Homeland Justice claimed that it had breached the computer defences of Albania’s postal service following its attack on parliament’s systems earlier this month. Original post Here
Charged with corruption, money laundering and concealment of wealth, ex-politician Monika Kryemadhi is rebranding herself as a showbiz celebrity on the Big Brother reality show, but can it keep her out of prison? Original post Here
An appeals court upheld the verdict jailing the former Socialist Party mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, who was at the centre of a political storm during a controversial election in 2023. Original post Here
The prime minister’s moves to shield his deputy from arrest feel like the beginning of the end of an era for Albanians’ hopes that the powerful would finally be held accountable. Original post Here
V Dem places Albania in a category dominated by African states, with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina the only Western Balkan countries in the same group. Tirana Times, March 23, 2026 – Albania has been placed in the category of electoral autocracy in the latest Democracy Report 2026 by the …
As oil and gas prices surge amid the Iran war, Balkan countries are pondering ways to reduce the impact on households and businesses. Original post Here
The controversy over Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has put the spotlight on prosecution efforts to target high-level corruption – but she is only the latest senior politician to face charges. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here