SPAK
SPAK summons Berisha over 21 January killings, former PM demands international prosecutor
Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) has issued a summons for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha as part of its reopened investigation into the 21 January 2011 killings, where four protesters...
Albania’s top justice officials raise red flags over new Penal Code draft
Albania’s Ministry of Justice convened a high-level consultative meeting on Wednesday to discuss the draft of the country’s new Penal Code, bringing together heads of key constitutional and judicial institutions...
EU hands progress report to Albania, urges completion of key reforms to stay on 2027 track
The European Union has formally delivered its 2025 Progress Report to Prime Minister Edi Rama, with the EU Ambassador in Tirana hailing Albania’s efforts as “excellent” — while warning that...
EU hails Albania’s EU accession progress as “unprecedented,” eyes 2027 membership
The European Commission has described Albania’s progress toward European Union membership as “unprecedented”, placing it among the frontrunners in the Western Balkans enlargement process, alongside Montenegro. Officials called the country’s...
Constitutional Court ruling on Erion Veliaj made public, triggers debate over SPAK case and mayor’s continued detention
The Constitutional Court has formally reinstated Erion Veliaj as Mayor of Tirana, overturning both the government’s decision to dismiss him and President Bajram Begaj’s decree calling early elections. The full...
Former Socialist MP sentenced to 2 years in prison for electoral corruption
The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime sentenced former Socialist MP Jurgis Çyrbja to two years in prison after finding him guilty of electoral corruption, revealing state secrets, and...
SPAK names Deputy PM Balluku as official suspect over Llogara Tunnel tender
Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku was formally declared a suspect by Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor (SPAK) on Thursday in connection with alleged irregularities in the Llogara Tunnel...
Erion Veliaj appears in court for first time since arrest, calls dismissal a threat to democracy
Erion Veliaj appeared in public for the first time since his arrest on February 10 — this time in handcuffs. Escorted by heavy police presence, the former Tirana mayor was...
Altin Dumani faces fiery parliamentary hearing as SPAK chief nears end of term
With just two months left in his mandate, SPAK chief Altin Dumani spent nearly two hours facing opposition MPs in Parliament, presenting the Special Prosecution’s 2024 activity report and answering...
OSCE/ODIHR final report: Albania’s 2025 elections competitive but unequal
Five months after Albania’s May 11 general elections, the OSCE/ODIHR has released its final report, describing the 2025 parliamentary polls as competitive but held in a highly polarized environment, with...