Albania

Anti-Government Protests in Tirana Escalate into Violence

On Saturday evening, the Albanian capital of Tirana became the scene of violent clashes between police forces and anti-government demonstrators. The protest, which was organised and led by opposition leader…

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Protests Erupt in Albania as Corruption Case Puts Political Leadership Under Pressure

Protesters in Tirana hurled petrol bombs at the government building housing Prime Minister Edi Rama's office on Monday, demanding the government's resignation after prosecutors indicted the deputy prime minister for…

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“We Know Our Responsibilities”: Rama Rejects Outside Guidance on Corruption Fight

Albania is committed to joining the European Union by 2030, Prime Minister Edi Rama told Euronews, labelling his country as “the most Euro-optimistic nation in Europe”. “2030 is not a…

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Internationally active Albanian organised crime network busted

A series of raids performed 7 to 8 August 2025 in Albania saw the arrest of 10 suspected members of an Albanian organised crime network engaged in multi-tonne cocaine trafficking…

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Rama to secure historic 4th term in Albania

Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a comfortable majority in Albania’s election, riding a wave of pro-EU sentiment to become the country’s longest-serving democratic leader. “It is the most humbling…

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The Albanian general election at a glance

A total of 26 political parties, including eight standalone and three coalitions, are competing for 140 seats in parliament under the proportional representation system. This will be Albania's tenth parliamentary…

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Albania’s Rama seeks fourth term in election dominated by graft, EU membership

Ilir Rranci moved to a hamlet outside the Albanian city of Elbasan for the view of snow-capped peaks and a garden big enough for fruit trees, chickens and turkeys. Today,…

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Albania to create a Vatican-style, Bektashi state in Tirana

Albania will create a sovereign Muslim state in Tirana for the Bektashi religious order, along the lines of the Vatican in Rome, to preserve and promote religious tolerance, Prime Minister…

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Albania bans TikTok for a year after killing of teenager

Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social…

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Heroin kingpin arrested after 703 kilos of heroin found in soap shipment

An international law enforcement operation supported by Europol has led to the arrest of a suspected heroin trafficker running a criminal network stretching from Iran to Western Europe. The investigation…

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Violent Albanian criminal group linked to corruption disrupted with the support of Europol

On 25 November, Albanian authorities, with the support of Europol, took enforcement actions against 21 individuals, including a former judge, a lawyer a police officer, and two investigative journalists as…

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Albanian ex-president Meta held on corruption charges

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta has been detained by police over corruption allegations, his lawyer said, calling the arrest politically motivated. Meta, 55, who was president from 2017-2022 and now…

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Violent Protests in Tirana as Police Clash with Protesters Over Corruption

Albanian police fired tear gas to disperse opposition protesters who hurled petrol bombs at government buildings and smashed city property in what they said was part of a civil disobedience…

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Prosecutors indict Albania’s ex PM on corruption charges

Albania's main opposition leader Sali Berisha said he had been officially indicted on Wednesday on corruption charges for actions he took when he was prime minister, describing the indictment as…

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02

Aug

Coordinated crackdown on high-profile Albanian criminal network

The Albanian authorities, in cooperation with Europol and Belgian, Dutch and French law enforcement, have successfully concluded a major operation, arresting 15 suspected members of a notorious Albanian organised crime…

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Albania’s former PM Berisha loses appeal against ban from UK

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha, the country's former president and prime minister, on Monday lost his appeal against a ban on entering Britain over alleged criminal links.Berisha, head of Albania's…

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Albania, wary of Russia, reopens Soviet-era air base to NATO

KUCOVA, Albania, March 4 (Reuters) - NATO member Albania, which has no fighter jets of its own, opened a rebuilt Soviet-era air base to serve NATO aircraft on Monday amid…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy arrives in Albania for southeastern Europe summit

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in the Albanian capital of Tirana, where he will attend a summit with countries of the Western Balkans and hold bilateral…

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Opposition protesters hurl petrol bombs at Albania government building

Opposition protesters pelted Albania's government building with petrol bombs and rocks late on Tuesday, accusing state officials of involvement in organised crime and corruption after their leader was placed under…

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Albanian opposition leader faces arrest after immunity lifted

TIRANA, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Albania's parliament voted on Thursday to lift the immunity of opposition leader Sali Berisha after his indictment on corruption charges, a decision expected to lead…

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Albania’s top court suspends ratification of migrant pact with Italy, citing constitutional review

By Florion Goga TIRANA, (Reuters) - The Albanian parliament will have to suspend ratification of a migrant pact agreed with Italy after a top court on Wednesday endorsed an opposition…

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Albania to host no more than 3,000 migrants under deal with Italy

ROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Albania will hold no more than 3,000 migrants at any one time under a deal announced this week allowing Italy to build two migrant reception…

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Albanian prosecutors charge former Prime Minister Sali Berisha in corruption probe

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian prosecutors have charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law on corruption charges over a land deal involving the grounds of a sports club, investigators…

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Italian tourists flock to Albania in key boost for economy

By Fatos Bytyci and Florion Goga SARANDA, Albania (Reuters) - A waiter in an Albanian restaurant in the coastal resort town of Saranda apologised to newly arriving customers that little…

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Albania suspends Golden Passport Scheme in effort to reassure European partners

Albania's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has announced that the country's Golden Passport Scheme has been temporarily suspended, after pressure from EU and international institutions against such programmes continued to mount.…

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Albania seizes 22,500 tonnes of oil suspected of coming from Russia

TIRANA, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Albania has seized an oil tanker carrying 22,500 tonnes of oil suspected of coming from Russia and arrested the crew for breaching a Western embargo,…

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Albania’s opposition calls for PM Rama’s resignation

Thousands of supporters of Albania's center-right opposition gathered in front of the government building in Tirana today to call for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is…

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Albanian opposition leader punched in face as he marches to protest

Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha was punched in the face by a male bystander as he led a crowd of his party's supporters to central Tirana for anti-government protests taking…

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Father and son missing as floods hit northern Albania

TIRANA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A father and son were missing in Albania on Sunday after their car was swept into a river during floods in the north of the country as…

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Anti-government protesters scuffle with police in Albania

TIRANA (Reuters) - Opposition protesters scuffled with police in front of the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama on Saturday where tens of thousands had gathered to protest against corruption,…

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Albania tells Britain: do not blame us for your immigration problems

LONDON (Reuters) - Albania's prime minister accused Britain of using his country's citizens as scapegoats for its failed immigration policies after derogatory comments by British ministers about a rise in…

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UPDATED: Albanian police search empty Iranian embassy after papers burned

TIRANA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Albanian counter-terrorism police searched the empty Iranian embassy in Tirana on Thursday, hours after Iranian diplomats burned papers inside the premises following the severing of…

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Albania cuts Iran ties, orders diplomats to go after cyber attack

TIRANA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Albania is ending diplomatic relations with Iran and has ordered Iranian diplomats and embassy staff to leave within 24 hours, after an investigation into a…

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Albania investigates military factory intruders from Russia and Ukraine

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania said it was investigating why two Russians and a Ukrainian had tried to enter a military factory and police detained four Czech nationals also close to…

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Albania arrests two Russians, one Ukrainian trying to enter military plant

TIRANA (Reuters) - The Albanian Defense Ministry said that two of its soldiers were injured while trying to stop two Russians and one Ukrainian who tried to enter a military…

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Albania’s ex-PM says UK has barred him from entering

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania’s former president and prime minister, Sali Berisha, said on Friday he had been banned by London from entering the UK for supposedly having links with criminal…

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Albania, North Macedonia finally start EU membership talks

Albania and North Macedonia began membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, overcoming a series of obstacles thrown up by EU governments despite an original promise to begin negotiations in mid-2018.…

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NATO in talks to build naval base in Albania

Albania is in talks with NATO to build a naval base at Porto Romano, a port under construction on its Adriatic coast, Prime Minister Edi Rama revealed. Rama told a…

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Albania’s PM slams Bulgaria on Western Balkan EU membership

Bulgaria's block on North Macedonia's progress to join the European Union is a "disgrace", Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said as he arrived for a special Balkans summit with EU…

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Albanian PM: No EU membership talks soon

TIRANA — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said he doesn’t expect an EU summit next week to clear the way for his country to begin membership talks and placed the…

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Albania to choose chief of defense as president

TIRANA, (Reuters) - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that his party has picked the country's chief of defense to be the new president after failing to choose a consensus…

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Albania’s highest court revokes lawmakers’ decision to sack president

Albania’s constitutional court has revoked parliament's vote to sack President Ilir Meta for allegedly advocating violence and violating the constitution. In June, some 104 lawmakers in the 140-seat parliament, mainly…

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Albanian police fire tear gas as protesters storm party offices

TIRANA, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Police fired tear gas and water cannon in Tirana on Saturday as stone-throwing protesters stormed into the headquarters of Albania's opposition Democratic Party in a…

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U.S. to open Special Operations Forces base in Albania

The United States Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) will open a forward-based headquarters in Albania on a rotational basis, Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama announced. SOCEUR, based in Stuttgart, Germany,…

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Albania votes in its first female dominated government

Albania's parliament on Friday voted in the first cabinet to be dominated by women since the multi-party system was introduced 30 years ago. After a parliamentary session which lasted more…

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Plane carrying evacuated Afghans in transit to U.S. arrives in Albania

A plane carrying 121 people evacuated from Afghanistan and in transit to the United States arrived in Albania’s Tirana airport early of Friday. Passengers included babies, children and people in…

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Airlifted Afghans to receive temporary shelter in Albania

Yuri Kim, ambassador of the United States to Albania, has revealed that a contingent of Afghans will be arriving in the Balkan country, without giving a precise figure. "We do…

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Slovenia pushes for Albania and N. Macedonia EU membership

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union should let Albania and North Macedonia move ahead with membership talks by October before a special Balkans summit organised by Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, its…

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Albania’s parliament votes to sack president

Albania's parliament voted on Wednesday to sack President Ilir Meta over statements which the ruling party said advocated violence and violated the constitution. Some 104 of parliament's 140 deputies voted…

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Albania’s ruling Socialists set to win election – exit poll

TIRANA (Reuters) -Albania's ruling Socialist Party looked set to win Sunday's national election and secure a third term for Prime Minister Edi Rama, an exit poll showed. According to Top…

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Albanians vote for new government with graft on their mind

Albanians go to the polls on Sunday in a parliamentary election likely to be neck-and-neck between the ruling Socialists and the opposition as corruption weighs heavily on voters in one…

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Albania donates COVID-19 vaccines to Kosovo health workers

Hundreds of health workers from Kosovo travelled to Albania over the weekend to be inoculated against COVID-19 after the neighbouring country offered to donate some of its supplies. Kosovo, where…

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Russian diplomat expelled from Albania for breaking Covid rules

Russia’s foreign ministry vowed on Friday to retaliate in kind against Albania for expelling a Russian diplomat, a move it said was aimed at harming bilateral relations, the RIA news…

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Albanians protest after police shot dead a man for violating coronavirus curfew

TIRANA (Reuters) - Police used tear gas late on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of Albanians protesting the killing by police of a young man who authorities said had violated an…

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Albania to open land borders, hotel beaches on Monday

Albania will re-open crèches and kindergartens and kick off its tourism season on June 1, the health minister announced, despite reporting a sharp daily rise in coronavirus infections. After three weeks…

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Angry protests after demolition of Albanian national theatre

Albanian authorities began demolishing the national theatre building early on Sunday after dragging away two dozen actors and activists protecting the site, drawing a large crowd chanting “shame” and “dictatorship”.…

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Albania set to legalise cannabis for medical use

Albania plans to legalise the cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes, six years after beginning a crackdown on an illegal trade that turned it, by some accounts, into Europe's…

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