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Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

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Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

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News

Money to Burn: Albania’s Nexus of Organised Crime and Rubbish Collection

As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here

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News

Week in Review: Alarm Bells and Struggles

Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here

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News

With Investment Favours, Albania’s Government Chips Away at Media Freedom

The owners of the biggest broadcasters in Albania have all benefitted from ‘strategic investor’ status granted by the government for other projects, raising doubts about editorial independence. Original post Here

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News

Albania Battles Deadly Wildfires Amid Heatwave

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) , August 13,2025— Fierce wildfires swept across Albania this week, killing one person, injuring at least 10 and forcing mass evacuations from southern towns to central mountain villages, as much of the Mediterranean battles deadly blazes fueled by extreme summer heat. Authorities said more than 10,000 …

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News

News24 TV’s Shutdown in Albania Sends a Worrying Signal

The Albanian police’s action – forcing the country’s largest news broadcaster off air without a court order – sets an alarming precedent. Original post Here

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News

Alarm in Albania at Proposed Criminal Code Changes; Govt Denies Involvement

Albania wants to align its Criminal Code with EU law, but critics, including media associations, say a proposed draft falls far short – and could limit press freedom. Original post Here

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News

Media Unions Criticise Albanian Police Operation Targeting TV Station

Media organisations say Albanian police action, surrounding the News 24 TV station building and seizing journalists’ computers amid a property dispute with a government ministry, is ‘heavy-handed’ and lacks a clear legal basis. Original post Here

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News

News 24 Raid and Blackout: Press Freedom or Property Dispute?

Tirana Times, 11 August, 2025 The forcible shutdown of Albania’s leading all-news television channel, News 24, and the blockade of the Focus Media Group headquarters by police and later military forces on August 9 has ignited national and international debate about press freedom, political retaliation, and the limits of state …

Read More
News
Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

News
Money to Burn: Albania’s Nexus of Organised Crime and Rubbish Collection

As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Alarm Bells and Struggles

Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here

News
With Investment Favours, Albania’s Government Chips Away at Media Freedom

The owners of the biggest broadcasters in Albania have all benefitted from ‘strategic investor’ status granted by the government for other projects, raising doubts about editorial independence. Original post Here

News
Albania Battles Deadly Wildfires Amid Heatwave

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) , August 13,2025— Fierce wildfires swept across Albania this week, killing one person, injuring at least 10 and forcing mass evacuations from southern towns to central mountain villages, as much of the Mediterranean battles deadly blazes fueled by extreme summer heat. Authorities said more than 10,000 …

News
News24 TV’s Shutdown in Albania Sends a Worrying Signal

The Albanian police’s action – forcing the country’s largest news broadcaster off air without a court order – sets an alarming precedent. Original post Here

News
Alarm in Albania at Proposed Criminal Code Changes; Govt Denies Involvement

Albania wants to align its Criminal Code with EU law, but critics, including media associations, say a proposed draft falls far short – and could limit press freedom. Original post Here

News
Media Unions Criticise Albanian Police Operation Targeting TV Station

Media organisations say Albanian police action, surrounding the News 24 TV station building and seizing journalists’ computers amid a property dispute with a government ministry, is ‘heavy-handed’ and lacks a clear legal basis. Original post Here

News
News 24 Raid and Blackout: Press Freedom or Property Dispute?

Tirana Times, 11 August, 2025 The forcible shutdown of Albania’s leading all-news television channel, News 24, and the blockade of the Focus Media Group headquarters by police and later military forces on August 9 has ignited national and international debate about press freedom, political retaliation, and the limits of state …

News

Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

News

Money to Burn: Albania’s Nexus of Organised Crime and Rubbish Collection

As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Alarm Bells and Struggles

Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here

News

With Investment Favours, Albania’s Government Chips Away at Media Freedom

The owners of the biggest broadcasters in Albania have all benefitted from ‘strategic investor’ status granted by the government for other projects, raising doubts about editorial independence. Original post Here

News

Albania Battles Deadly Wildfires Amid Heatwave

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) , August 13,2025— Fierce wildfires swept across Albania this week, killing one person, injuring at least 10 and forcing mass evacuations from southern towns to central mountain villages, as much of the Mediterranean battles deadly blazes fueled by extreme summer heat. Authorities said more than 10,000 …

News

News24 TV’s Shutdown in Albania Sends a Worrying Signal

The Albanian police’s action – forcing the country’s largest news broadcaster off air without a court order – sets an alarming precedent. Original post Here

News

Alarm in Albania at Proposed Criminal Code Changes; Govt Denies Involvement

Albania wants to align its Criminal Code with EU law, but critics, including media associations, say a proposed draft falls far short – and could limit press freedom. Original post Here

News

Media Unions Criticise Albanian Police Operation Targeting TV Station

Media organisations say Albanian police action, surrounding the News 24 TV station building and seizing journalists’ computers amid a property dispute with a government ministry, is ‘heavy-handed’ and lacks a clear legal basis. Original post Here

News

News 24 Raid and Blackout: Press Freedom or Property Dispute?

Tirana Times, 11 August, 2025 The forcible shutdown of Albania’s leading all-news television channel, News 24, and the blockade of the Focus Media Group headquarters by police and later military forces on August 9 has ignited national and international debate about press freedom, political retaliation, and the limits of state …