Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, was portrayed as a participant and leader of youth protests in Albania through posts in the media and on social networks. While one image placed him at a protest in Tirana, the Government of Kosovo published announcements about his activities in Pristina, and the Vetëvendosje Movement denied having called for participation in the demonstrations.
Footage of the fire at the Supreme Court spread across social media, accompanied by claims that the institution had been completely destroyed or attacked over rulings in favour of Jared Kushner. Other posts targeted SPAK and the independence of the judiciary.
Footage of ships in Vlorë and military vehicles in Tirana was presented as being linked to the protests and as evidence of intervention by Israel and the United States. Albania’s Ministry of Defence clarified that the ships were Turkish and were taking part in a planned NATO exercise, with no US participation.
Flight paths of a Polish-registered aircraft, displayed on online air traffic maps, were used on social media to fuel suspicions and unsupported allegations of arson. Amfora’s fact-check found no evidence linking the aircraft to the fires, while a senior official at Tirana Airport said it was conducting aerial photography.
A statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine’s position of non-recognition of Kosovo remained unchanged, together with the Municipality of Prishtina’s decision to remove the “Free Ukraine” banner, was distorted into claims that the Ukrainian president had said “Kosovo is Serbia” and that Albanians were abandoning Ukraine, culminating in calls for them to “fight for Russia.”
Three days ago, the village of Polena, Korça, celebrated one of the most wonderful and colorful events in southeastern Albania: The Carnival of Polena. Yet, despite its rich symbolic and cultural value, the event remains largely forgotten.
The Albanian language is slowly losing its purity and distinct identity—not through force or policy, but through everyday habits and social influence. English and other foreign words are quietly replacing native ones in conversation, media, and culture, showing that the real threat to the language today isn’t external domination, but internal indifference.
Despite the increase in institutions treating domestic violence cases and the creation of awareness-raising apps which use high-end technology, women, and girls who are victims of gender-based violence in Albania struggle to find the right space to report violence through the internet.
“Culture in 1 Minute” – Episode 30.
The European Union awarded three prizes to journalists for the best investigative stories in Albania during 2023. Third place went to journalists Geri Emiri, Aida Ciro, and Aleksandar Dimitrievski from Amfora.al for their article that exposed the challenges faced by Balkan farmers in accessing EU funds through the IPARD Program.
