Latest Tirana News

Albanian opposition MPs try to disrupt Parliament to protest a colleague's imprisonment

Oct. 03, 2024 06:47 AM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition lawmakers on Thursday protested in Parliament, burning effigies and clashing with bodyguards, after one of their colleagues was convicted of slander and imprisoned. The conservative Democrat lawmakers, who had called for a boycott of...

Albania's opposition violently interrupt parliament session after lawmaker is sentenced to prison

Oct. 01, 2024 00:56 AM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian opposition lawmakers violently disrupted a Parliament session Monday to protest the imprisonment of a fellow legislator for alleged slander. The conservative Democratic Party of Albania has long accused the ruling Socialist Party of usurping all the...

Premier says Albania will grant sovereignty to Bektashi Muslims in Tirana, similar to the Vatican

Sep. 22, 2024 16:59 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Sunday his country would transform the Tirana-based Bektashi Muslims, an Islamic Sufi order, into a sovereign state to promote moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Speaking at the United Nations, Rama pointed...

Albania's former prime minister Sali Berisha is formally charged with corruption

Sep. 11, 2024 10:52 AM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Wednesday said he was formally charged with corruption in connection with a property deal, describing the move as politically motivated. In October, prosecutors publicly put him under investigation for allegedly...

An ethnic Greek politician and EU lawmaker is released on probation in Albania

Sep. 02, 2024 16:19 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A former ethnic Greek mayor of an Albanian town, whose imprisonment on vote-buying charges has strained Albanian-Greek ties, has been released on probation, his office and a lawyer said Monday. Fredis Beleris was freed after a court in Fier, 100 kilometers...

Ethnic Greek politician returns to prison in Albania after attending European Parliament opening

Jul. 20, 2024 09:06 AM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A member of Albania’s ethnic Greek minority returned to prison Saturday after a five-day reprieve to attend the opening session of the European Parliament where he was elected to represent Greece's ruling party. Fredis Beleris, who holds dual Greek-Albanian...