Money laundering and part of a criminal group / SPAK demands 16 years in prison for two associates of Rezart Taçi
The Special Prosecutor’s Office requested 16 years in prison for two associates of businessman Rezart Taci. It is about Artur Balla, against whom SPAK demands a sentence of 8.8 years in prison, and Bledar Lilo, for whom 8 years in prison is demanded. The charges brought against them are “Cleaning …
Weed houses dismantled in Vlora and Selenica, several Arrested
Police of Vlora have conducted an operation in several villages in the municipality of Selenica and in Vlora in closed premises for shepherds’ houses. According to police sources, the action started at noon on February 9 and continued until the early hours of this Friday morning. Police sources in Vlora …
Vlora director informs on Anti-drug operation
VLora Police Director Ermal Muçaj has given details regarding the anti-drug action in Vlora, which led to the discovery of two “grow houses”, in which 6 people were arrested and two were declared wanted. The operation started at 11:00 on 09.02.2023, at the same time, in the neighborhood “10 Korriku” …
Gjiknuri in SPAK: Tirana-Elbasan among the most abusive projects
The General Secretary of the Socialist Party, Damian Gjiknuri, stated that he has appeared in SPAK to testify about one of the biggest abuses on the Tirana-Elbasan road, which according to him was contracted to be built with a value that started with 240 million euros and ended with 400 …
Earthquake tremors in Albania
Earthquake tremors were recorded a few moments ago in Albania. It is learned that the epicenter of the earthquake was in the village of Mjekës, about 7 km from Elbasan, while the tremors were recorded with a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale. The tremors were felt in several …
President Begaj host Lord Stuart Peach
The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, received today the Special Envoy of the British Government for the Western Balkans, Lord Stuart Peach. President Begaj praised the great attention that the British government pays to the Western Balkans region, as well as hailed Lord Peach’s role in promoting strong democratic …
Sentenced to 8 years in prison, an Albanian is arrested in Italy
In Rinas, it has become possible to capture an Albanian sentenced to eight years in prison in Italy for several crimes. The police inform that the arrested person is Dritan Hyka (Asimaj), from Vlora. The procedures to extradite him to Italy will now begin. Internationally wanted, sentenced to 8 years …
SPAK won’t adjudicate January 21 protest killings’ lawsuits
Lawsuits on the “January 21” murders by the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja and the Socialist Party (SP), will be reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana. Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) declared incompetence and transferred the reports to the Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation. The …
Albanian FA troops in Turkey rescue a 5-year-old child
The Albanian search and rescue forces in Turkey are working against the rubble and the freezing weather. It is reported that the Albanian FA troops saved the life of a 5-year-old child and pulled out 6 dead bodies from the ruins. “Or FA troops have been working for hours, non-stop, …
Number of Albanians with residence permits in Greece falls
Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum published data on the issuance of residence permits for foreign immigrants living in Greece, most of whom are immigrants from Albania. According to official data in the month of December 2022, there are 285,842 Albanian immigrants with residence permits in Greece, which make up …
Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …
The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …
Klodiana Spahiu has been sworn in as Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the Presidency. President Bajram Begaj appointed her following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s proposal, after Evis Sala resigned from the post. Spahiu is a cardiologist and holds a medical degree from the University of Tirana. She later …
An exhibition dedicated to one of Albania’s leading 20th-century artists, Ibrahim Kodra, will open in Tirana on September 23. “Ibrahim Kodra – The Sea and Music” will be held at the Bank of Albania and will remain open until November 23. The exhibition features 41 works created between 1947 and …
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the launch of a national campaign to register artisans across Albania. The campaign aims to identify, assess and promote traditional crafts and the people who preserve them. Gonxhja said the campaign would give greater visibility to artisans and their work. It will …
Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj has announced a new National Housing Fund to support not only vulnerable groups, but also professionals, young people and newly formed families. Speaking after a government meeting, Ibrahimaj said the programme will make 7,000 apartments available. Around 2,000 will be offered through interest-free loans …
The Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, met with UNDP Resident Representative Randi Davis to discuss cooperation in green finance, financial and digital education, payment systems, and support for SMEs. The meeting focused on Albania’s latest economic and financial developments and the Bank’s ongoing initiatives. Davis praised the …
Albania is increasingly attracting visitors through its natural heritage, with protected areas becoming key destinations for tourists. Diverse landscapes, rich biodiversity and outdoor activities are drawing more visitors and adding a new dimension to the country’s tourism offer. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj said more than 4.5 million visitors explored Albania’s …
General jurisdiction prosecutors from Tirana, Elbasan, Durrës, Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Kukës, Korçë, Berat, Fier, Vlora, Dibër, Lezhë and Shkodër took part in a training session on prosecutorial ethics and professional dilemmas. The Dutch Embassy in Albania said the training was led by Dutch prosecutor Disa Jironet. It focused on complex cases, …