Latest News from Albania
Thodex customers lost around $108 million: Minister
The total assets allegedly seized by a runaway cryptocurrency exchange platform founder in Turkey amount to around $108 million, according to the Turkish interior minister.
Thodex founder Faruk Fatih Özer fled to Albania after the crypto platform abruptly shut down on April 19, effectively obstructing control of nearly 400,000 customer accounts.
Public Good? Albanian Taxpayers Fund Private Resort’s Luxury Services
Albania's state Development Fund is splashing public money on a helipad, seaport and other services near a privately owned resort - while ignoring loud complaints about environmental damage.
The Financial Times: A perfect recipe for the war in Balkans
Commenting on the infamous "non-paper", the one that allegedly originated from the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, the FT states that mere defending the inviolability of borders in the Western Balkans is far from sufficient when it comes to the West's policy towards that region.
Albanian Port Hosts Start of Defender Europe 21 Exercise
A massive US-led military exercise including 28,000 forces from 26 nations, including the United States, NATO countries and their allies, started this week, and will conduct exercises in more than 30 training areas in 12 countries during April, May and June, including Western Balkan countries.
Albanian Police ‘Ignored Fraud Evidence’ at Politician’s Murder Scene
Police inspect the scene where a politician was murdered and four people injured in Elbasan on March 21. Photo: LSA
Kosovo War Survivors Nervous About Participating in Guerrillas’ Trials
In December 2019, Gani was interviewed as a witness by prosecutors from The Hague. Gani is not his real name; BIRN is using a pseudonym to protect his identity. Many witnesses are fearful of potential retribution in Kosovo; this is one of the reasons that the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, which will try former KLA guerrillas for wartime crimes, was set up outside the country.
Edi Rama Declares Victory in Albanian General Elections
Edi Rama wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that his party has won the parliamentary elections and called on his supporters and "whoever wants to join us celebrate the victory" to attend a celebration in the evening in Tirana's central square despite concerns about the spreading of the coronavirus.
Serbian Court Tries Kosovo Albanian for Wartime Killings
The trial of Nezir Mehmetaj, a Kosovo Albanian accused of participation in war crimes against civilians in the village of Rudice in the Klina municipality in June and July 1999, opened in Belgrade Higher Court on Thursday.
Mehmetaj is accused of involvement in killing seven people and burning and looting houses in Rudice as a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
Politician’s Killing Stains Albania’s Turbulent Election Campaign
Police inspect the scene where a politician was murdered and four citizens were injured in Elbasan, Albania, March 21, 2021. Photo: LSA
Xhuvani is a former state official who had campaigned for several parties, including the Socialist Movement for Integration, LSI, and the Justice and Integration and Unity Party, while being a Socialist Party activist currently.
Disputed Non-Paper is Stirring Dangerous Dreams in the Balkans
The latest discussions about territorial reorganization in the Balkans have shaken the region, once again underlining its deep ethnic and political divisions and unresolved tensions.
Police, Soldiers among Albanian Ruling Party’s Voter Tracking ‘Army’
Some appear to be members of the National Guard, state police and army, who by law would be prohibited from engaging in party politics.
Bosnian Serbs Urge Talks on Country’s Potential ‘Disintegration’
Taking advantage of the tensions caused by a controversial document predicting the dissolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian Serb political leaders said on Tuesday that they want to formally discuss the future of the country with Croat and Bosniak politicians.
Shooting at Opposition Office Alarms Albania as Election Approaches
Tensions rose in the run-up to the weekend's polls in Albania when a young man was shot in his knee inside the electoral office of the opposition Democratic Party in the central Albania town of Kavaja late on Monday.
Torpedo: The Double Life of an Accused US-Albanian Drug Trafficker
Drug trafficking is the chief source of 'dirty money' penetrating Albania's meagre economy, according to authorities, helping to finance political corruption, sway elections and win protection from prosecution.
Janša condemns extremism after protest in front of Slovenian embassy
Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša has condemned extremism after members of a radical Islamist group in Bosnia and Herzegovina protested in front of the Slovenian embassy in Sarajevo Sunday over an alleged non-paper linked to Slovenia that speaks about the breakup of Bosnia-Herzegovina along ethnic lines.