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Albania’s Former Deputy Prime Minister Faces Corruption Charges After Months of Political Protection

The expanded case against Belinda Balluku puts the government’s defence of senior officials—and Parliament’s refusal to authorize her arrest—under renewed scrutiny. Tirana Times, October 20, 2026 – Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecution, SPAK, on Tuesday communicated final charges against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, including corruption, money laundering, asset concealment
3 minutes ago
6 mins read

Albania’s Student Revolt Broadens as Trust in Dialogue Erodes

Lecturers, writers and parents joining the demonstrations deepen the political challenge facing Prime Minister Edi Rama, as allegations of police brutality fuel demands for his resignation. Tirana Times, October 20, 2026 – The participation of university lecturers, writers, artists and parents in Albania’s student protests marks a significant widening of
21 minutes ago
4 mins read

Anti-Government Protests in Albania: The Student Revolt and the Escalation of the Political Crisis

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Developments through the morning of 20 October 2026 Special Report, prepared by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Introduction Albania’s anti-government protests have become a sustained political crisis. By October 19, seven consecutive days of student-led demonstrations had brought clashes in Tirana, mobilization elsewhere, attacks on institutions and allegations
3 hours ago
24 mins read
Defence Minister Ermal Nufi during a parliamentary session

Albania’s Defence Tax Breaks Raise State Capture Concerns

Proposed fiscal concessions would benefit private partners of the state defence company KAYO as an arms-trafficking investigation puts the sector under scrutiny. Tirana Times, October 19, 2026 – Albania’s government is proposing additional tax privileges for the defence industry while the state company at the centre of its expansion, KAYO,
19 hours ago
4 mins read

Quo Vadis, Albania?

by Dr. Elez Bebiraj Tirana Times, October 17, 2026 – Albania is facing the most serious political crisis of Edi Rama’s thirteen years in power. Protesters demanding the prime minister’s resignation have attacked government buildings, clashed with police, and damaged public and private property. The unrest has spread from Tirana
3 days ago
10 mins read

A Bulgarian young anthropologist, cook, and researcher

Tirana Times, October 17, 2026 – Vera Prokopieva is a nutrition scientist from Bulgaria who has studied food from three angles: as an anthropologist, as a cook in Copenhagen kitchens, and as a researcher at Stanford, working on clinical trials of food as medicine and on how fermented foods shape the gut
3 days ago
9 mins read

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Quo Vadis, Albania?

by Dr. Elez Bebiraj Tirana Times, October 17, 2026 – Albania is facing the most serious political crisis of Edi Rama’s thirteen years in
3 days ago
10 mins read

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Gazmend Freitag Named “Painter of the Year 2025” in Gjirokastër

Kosovo-born, Austria-based artist honored for a career that has turned memory, displacement and identity into a bridge between cultures Tirana Times, September 29, 2026 –  Kosovo-born Albanian painter Gazmend Freitag, who has built his artistic career in Austria, has been awarded the title “Painter of the Year 2025”, receiving the distinction
3 weeks ago
4 mins read

The Western Balkans’ Right to Democracy Depends on the EU Enlargement

by Sokol Lleshi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of New York Tirana Background The political systems in the Western Balkan region feature politicized public administrations, weak enforcement of rule of law norms, and inconsistent practices of political accountability. In general, the historical experience of the region is such that
3 months ago
10 mins read

Why Waiting Is Not Neutral: The Costs of Non-Enlargement

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Debates about EU enlargement tend to focus on the risks of admitting countries before they are ready. In her recent paper, Marta Szpala broadens the debate by examining what prolonged delay means for both candidate countries and the European Union itself. Tirana Times spoke with Szpala about how prolonged uncertainty
3 months ago
9 mins read

Spain Rules the World Again

Spain clinches second FIFA World Cup title as Europe continues its dominance on football’s biggest stage By Gautam Karve, Editor-in-Chief, World Media Organization Tirana Times, July 22, 2026 – Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title with a commanding performance, defeating Argentina in a final that showcased the Spanish
3 months ago
2 mins read
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K’cimi dancing of Tropojë – Gazmend Freitag

by Monika Grill Tirana Times, July 11, 2026 – “K’cimi i Tropoja” – the dance that endured over centuries and kept the Albanian identity alive, has been officially declared part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. “K’cimi i Tropoja” refers to a traditional
3 months ago
1 min read

Features and Culture

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Gazmend Freitag Named “Painter of the Year 2025” in Gjirokastër

Kosovo-born, Austria-based artist honored for a career that has turned memory, displacement and identity into a bridge between cultures Tirana Times, September 29, 2026 –  Kosovo-born Albanian painter Gazmend Freitag, who has built his artistic career in Austria, has been awarded the title “Painter of the Year 2025”, receiving the distinction
3 weeks ago
4 mins read

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