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Ethnic Greek Politician Fredi Beleri Released from Albanian Prison

An Albanian court has released ethnic Greek former mayor-elect Fredi Beleri, whose jailing caused diplomatic friction with neighbouring Greece. Original post Here

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Fredi Beleri arrives at the court, asks for bail

Fredi Beleri has arrived at the Fier court. The next session will take place this Monday, where the decision is expected to be given regarding his request for bail. So far, three sessions have been held, but they have been postponed due to the lack of documentation. Beleri was arrested …

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Begins the new parliamentary session/ Rama gathers group of socialist deputies

This Monday, the group of the Socialist Party is expected to discuss the objectives related to the new season. Also, the parliamentary session will be held today, thus marking the start of the new parliamentary session. In this session, which will be held at 17:00, the Speaker of the Assembly, …

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Fredi Beleri released from prison

The court has accepted Fredi Beler’s request for conditional release. Fredi Beleri had six weeks left on his sentence. We recall that Beleri was arrested for buying and selling votes during the May 14 election process. He was arrested in the premises of a bar in Himare, just two days …

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Tirane, woman arrested for violating husband

Tirana police have arrested a 33-year-old resident of Institut hill, Tirana, because she allegedly raped her roommate. Eranda Sina has been arrested. According to the police, on August 31, the young woman had a meeting with her roommate near the Institut Bridge. But in this meeting place on the evening …

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Bled Strategic Forum/ Rama meets with EU officials in Slovenia

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Slovenia, where he will be present at the Bled forum, held today and tomorrow. Global concerns around the world will be addressed in this forum. In the footage published by the Prime Minister’s Office, we can see the moment when the head of the …

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A 28 year old arrested in Lezha for drug trafficking in Italy

A 28-year-old man was arrested in Lezha, with the aim of extradition to Italy. According to the police, the young man from Puka was wanted internationally by the Italian authorities as part of a criminal organization for the trafficking of narcotics. In 2023, the Court of Bologna assigned the security …

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Our solidarity with Ukraine, the most natural thing”, Rama in Prague: A dispute cannot be resolved with an army

“There is no interest or need to see Russia as an ally as long as in Russia the dream of a certain variant of imperialism either in the old or the new way will not disappear. We are the only country in Europe that since 1990 there has not been …

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Rama: Western Balkans in EU is not an expansion, but a union

“We are Europeans. I have a slightly different approach to Alexander’s as to who was the biggest promoter of expansion over the last two years, it was not Emmanuel but Vladimir. Europe needed Vladimir to attack Ukraine so that it would no longer be taken away because the Western Balkans …

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Albania faces international scrutiny over suspected toxic waste trafficking

TIRANA, Aug. 30, 2024 – The discovery that 800 tons of industrial waste, suspected to contain hazardous toxic substances, were exported from Albania’s port of Durrës — likely originating outside the country — has sparked a major international investigation, raising serious concerns about Albania’s potential role in global waste trafficking …

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Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

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Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

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‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News
Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News
Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News
UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

News

Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

News

‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News

Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News

Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here