Exposing Scams, Probing the Powerful: A Year of BIRN Investigations
As 2026 begins, we look back on some of the most important investigations published by BIRN in its 20th anniversary year – from brutal migrant-smuggling gangs and arms deals with…
Letter From Washington: The US Just Blasted Balkan Authoritarians – Or Did It?
The recently-passed Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act shows that some US lawmakers still care about the region. But it doesn’t mean that Donald Trump is going to tell Aleksandar…
New Chief of Albania’s Anti-Graft Prosecution Vows ‘Tough Approach’
Despite political tensions sparked by high-profile corruption cases, Klodjan Braho tells BIRN that his main priority will be to guarantee Albanians that “no one is above the law”. KAYNAK: Balkan…
Visiting Thaci in Hague Jail, Albania PM Slates ’Shameful’ War Court
Albania’s Edi Rama lashed out at the Hague-based Specialist Chambers war crimes court following a visit to Kosovo’s ex-President Hashim Thaci in detention, calling it a ‘theatre of shame’. KAYNAK:…
Albania in 2025: Socialists Win Big, Graft Probes Continue
Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a historic fourth term in office and consolidated his rule against a background of ongoing corruption investigations into several politicians from the governing Socialist Party.…
Albania‘s Constitutional Court Temporarily Reinstates Deputy PM Balluku
Court temporarily restores Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku to her duties, after the government disputed a court order that had suspended her. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
Endrit Shabani Elected as Albania’s Ombudsman in Contested Process
New Ombudsman elected solely with the votes of the ruling majority – a break in tradition – after opposition MPS refused to participate in the vote. KAYNAK: Balkan Insight
New Chief Chosen for Albania’s Anti-Corruption Prosecution
Albania‘s High Prosecution Council chooses Klodian Braho as new head of the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime - a body with the tough task of tackling high-level graft.…
‘The Biggest Fight is With the State,’ Says Albanian Eco-Warrior
Environmentalist Ardian Koci was awarded the 2025 EuroNatur Award for his campaigning conservation work in Albania – but he had already left the country after being fired by the Environment…