Decriminalization/ Chief Prosecutor: In 2023, 77 people were registered for in-depth verification
Chief Prosecutor Olsian Cela says that during 2023, related to decriminalization, out of 91 new requests, 77 processes were registered for in-depth verification. While reporting to the Parliament of Albania, C ela stated that of these, 38 requests were made by the Department of Public Administration and 39 by the …
Albania’s Promised ‘Open Government’ Remains on Paper Only
More than a decade since it joined, Albania has made little progress in fulfilling the commitments made under the US ‘Open Government’ initiative. Original post Here
LGBT Pride and Euro 2024 Become Focus for Online Hate Speech
BIRN’s roundup of digital rights violations for June shows how marches to celebrate LGBT Pride month attracted online insults and threats, while nationalists used the Euro 2024 football tournament to voice ethnic slurs on social media. Original post Here
Tirana/ 13 arrested in one week for various criminal offenses
Thirteen people have been arrested and 13 citizens have been prosecuted for various criminal offenses in the field of road traffic in one week. 13,578 administrative measures have been imposed: 34 measures for black glasses. 1447 measures for speeding over the permitted rates. 452 measures for mobile phone use while …
“Maritime Security”/ From Ksamil to Velipoja, the border police block 34 vessels
The Border Police has blocked 34 vessels, from Ksamil to Velipojë, within the “Maritime Security” operation. The Maritime Police Unit and the Border Police have intensified controls along the entire coastline, lake and river areas. During this week, the Border Police blocked 34 vessels, of which 24 jet skis, 6 …
Trump assassination attempt, Rama: This is a tragedy for the democratic world
Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Through a post on social networks, Rama says that it is disturbing to see that a candidate for president in the USA is shot during a rally and where one person remained a victim. …
The permit is approved, Beleri will be sworn in as an MEP in Strasbourg
The Directorate of Prisons approves the permit for Alfred Beleri to participate in the European Parliament. ABC News has learned that Beleri will travel alone, unaccompanied by prison officials. Just a few days ago, Athens officially asked Tirana for permission for Fredi Beleri to go to Strasbourg to participate in …
Lezha court gave life sentence for man that killed former OST director
The Court of Lezha gave a life prison sentence for Dorjan Keqi, the man who in 2016, killed the former director of OST, Saimir Jaku in Rreshen. The 42-year-old from Kruja, resident in Kurbin was found guilty for murder committed in collaboration. He was arrested on September of 2022 as …
Tensions in the opposition protest, 8 arrested
The police have released eight people who, during the opposition protest, threw flares and Molotov cocktails towards the prime minister’s building. “Following the investigative and procedural actions carried out for the protest that took place yesterday evening, the materials were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, where the proceedings for 8 …
Fires engulf Albania as a result of extreme heat
According to the data from the National Operational Center of Civil Emergencies, during the last 24 hours, 14 fires have been reported, of which 11 have been extinguished and 3 fires are active. “Today the work is continuing in the municipality of Delvina, where the hearth of the fire is …
The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here
Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here
Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 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
The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here
Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …
Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here
Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …
Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here