The three-day event, organised by the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecution Office (SPAK) in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), brought together 70 investigators and prosecutors from 28 jurisdictions, alongside representatives of three international organisations.

Participants exchanged practical experience on corruption investigation techniques, the lawful use of preliminary information, the preservation of electronic evidence and the verification of the illicit origins of assets.

Particular attention was given to challenges in cross-border investigations, where suspects, relevant information and assets under investigation may be located in different jurisdictions.

Identifying and tracing such assets, as well as securing evidence admissible in criminal proceedings, requires close coordination among the authorities involved, SPAK said.

The agency stressed the importance of establishing a reliable chain of evidence through international cooperation, particularly in investigations extending beyond national borders.

The meeting was held under the OECD’s Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), a cooperation platform aimed at sharing expertise and strengthening the capacity of law enforcement institutions to combat corruption.

The event was jointly organised by SPAK and the OECD, with support from the European Union and the UK government.

SPAK thanked the OECD, its Anti-Corruption Network and international partners for their cooperation and support.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama announced new support measures for students, noting that financial assistance will reach half the minimum wage (25,000 ALL) and extend to master’s-level students.

“In the new housing bill currently before Parliament, we have included additional relief for students and young couples, ranging from government-subsidized rents to zero- or low-interest loans capped at 3%,” Rama said.

He added that upcoming legislation will also introduce a youth employment initiative, requiring businesses to hire students at half the minimum wage based on an established formula.

The Prime Minister also pushed back against pressure to participate in protests and boycott classes.

“I want to say right from the start that the climate of terror created in school environments or on your phones, forced by a violent minority upon the majority to take to the streets or to skip class, is unacceptable,” Rama stated.

He also deemed unacceptable the class boycott by a portion of the university faculty, emphasizing that a clear distinction must be made between the right to protest and forcing it upon students who wish to continue their education.

Prime Minister Rama turned his criticism toward university faculty participating in class boycotts, accusing politically motivated professors of using students as “cannon fodder.”

“We will address this issue further after consulting with the Rectors’ Forum,” Rama said. “There is a clear line between the right to protest or strike legally and arbitrarily imposing those views on students who simply want to attend class.”

Highlighting government investments under the “Pact for the University,” Rama noted that 60% of university students—six out of ten—now receive direct financial aid from the state. He specified that 4,118 students receive merit-based scholarships, 4,648 receive need-based financial support, and 434 top-performing students are awarded monthly stipends equivalent to the minimum wage.

He also said that 10,152 students are fully exempt from university tuition fees, while for another 27,050 students, the government covers 50% of their tuition fees.

Rama emphasized that all of this demonstrates that three-quarters of public university funding is covered by the government.

“For example, in the most affected universities, where a group of students have abandoned classes for weeks on end and are blocking Durrës Street—leaving others there out of work and preventing many citizens from moving freely—tuition fees represent less than 20% of the cost per student,” Rama said.

Meanwhile, Rama added, “this government, again thanks to the Pact for the University, covers more than 80% of the cost of study for medical students, without taking into account those students who benefit from fee exemptions or 50% reductions.”

Rama reminded the public that “the government injects money from contributions coming precisely from the businesses on Durrës Street—which remain closed due to the terror of stone-throwing—from others moving goods and services along the blocked Durrës Street, as well as from all citizens and businesses in Tirana and across Albania, who in this wave of violence and anarchy have lost their peace and produced less income.”

“In Tirana, the dormitory fees paid by students cover less than a third of annual costs—without even factoring in ongoing state investments to upgrade quality and expand capacity. We already have €100 million in approved funding ready for dormitories.

The Pact for the University is not an Instagram post or a TikTok video, nor is it a forgotten election platform from parties making wild promises they know they can never keep.”

Prime Minister Edi Rama is calling on students to return to the negotiating table. Reminding the public that today’s aid packages stem from the government’s 2018 Pact for the University, Rama declared that his administration is ready to update the agreement. He extended a direct invitation to student representatives, stating he is prepared to meet for open talks at any time and location of their choosing.

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In an address to the Albanian public, Rama emphasized that aggression and violence cannot be accepted as normal when they compromise peaceful coexistence and public freedom.

“I have asked myself repeatedly these past few days: Is it possible to accept as normal the aggression of a crowd that, in the name of youth, students, and the future, seeks to impose itself on all of us—not merely by smashing the windows of the Ministry of Education and nearby buildings, but by shattering every norm of coexistence among citizens of the same city?” the Prime Minister said.

Rama stated that when he speaks of the citizens affected by this situation, he is referring not only to himself, the government, or the parliamentary majority, but to all those who are not participating in acts of violence.

“In citing ‘everyone,’ I refer not to the executive branch or the parliamentary majority, but unconditionally to every citizen not aligned with this aggression—those currently subject to anxiety and instability driven by urban perpetrators and digital harassers,” declared the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister argued that residents simply wish to live in peace without having their schedules disrupted by a group acting against the city’s stability.

Highlighting months of disturbance—including late-night noise, blocked roads, and intimidation of drivers—Rama questioned how a violent minority could be allowed to dictate terms to the capital, condemning the recent turn toward rioting, property damage, and attacks on law enforcement.

“Who are these people, and in whose name are they trying to force upon our society, our capital, and our country an example of brute force, lawlessness, and inhumanity?” Rama said.

She was killed near her home in Vitomirica, Peja, on the evening of October 25, shortly after reporting domestic violence by her ex-husband to the police.

Kurti stated that in Kosovo, justice “unfortunately does not protect the vulnerable; on the contrary, justice has sided with the strong.” According to him, the justice system in Kosovo remains crooked.

“The Republic of Kosovo no longer needs any further proof to establish that reforming justice is a national emergency,” he said.

Kurti recalled that regarding the Zekaj case, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have until tomorrow at 18:00 to submit their detailed reports on the evidence and lapses within each institutional chain.

During the day, a protest has been called over Zekaj’s murder, marking her as the eighth woman to be killed this year.

Zekaj had repeatedly sought help from the institutions. She had turned to the authorities stating that as early as December of last year, her husband, from whom she was separated, had threatened her life.

The authorities had subsequently issued a protection order and decided that temporary custody of the couple’s minor child should be granted to Zekaj.

The authorities had also ordered the husband to stay away from her, while ruling that she could remain in the couple’s shared home.

Two days before her murder, Arlinda Zekaj had sent a letter to the Chief Prosecutor of Peja complaining about how her case was being handled and the failure to enforce the court decision.

According to the Prosecution Office, the duty prosecutor assessed that an immediate return home could endanger her life. He instructed her to stay with her brothers and planned for her return home to be carried out under police escort.

On the day of her murder, Arlinda Zekaj filed her final report regarding domestic violence. Her estranged husband was detained for 48 hours, while she insisted on returning to their shared home in accordance with the court ruling.

When asked if she felt safe at home—given that members of her husband’s family were present there—she admitted that her safety remained compromised, but insisted on exercising her rights.

Just minutes after the police escorted her home, Arlinda Zekaj was allegedly killed with an axe by her brother-in-law.

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The Prime Minister emphasized that the process is not intended to produce a report for law enforcement authorities, but rather to establish a basis for analysis and reflection once the situation has calmed down.According to Rama, the documentation will help identify security-related interventions, provide support to individuals who may have been involved in problematic incidents, and reassess social interactions within schools.

“Together, we have worked hard to elevate school leadership. Most of you have completed training at the School of Directors and engaged in ongoing professional development. Yet today, guiding young minds in our schoolyards is far more challenging. Students are shaped not just by their households, but by the hidden digital spaces they carry in their pockets, radically altering how they approach traditional boundaries. That is why, together with the Minister and key advisers, we ask each of you to keep a detailed journal documenting the events of recent days.”

“Document the events of recent days in as much detail as possible using plain language. Simply capture what happened and how it unfolded,” Rama stated. “The goal isn’t to create a report for law enforcement, but to reconstruct a clear picture we can look back on and learn from once the situation cools down. This will help us pinpoint where to step in—whether that means improving security, offering guidance to those caught up in these events, or adjusting school life and social dynamics.”

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“Through your projects, you are not only contributing to the country’s development, but also transforming the work culture through the standards you apply,” Begaj emphasized.

The Head of State particularly praised the TOKA project, which aims to modernize agriculture, increase productivity and competitiveness, strengthen food security, and align the sector with European Union standards.

The talks also highlighted the foundation’s efforts to develop human capital through scholarships, internships, international academic partnerships, and artificial intelligence skills programs. These initiatives aim to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen connections with the Albanian diaspora.

“Through these projects, you are helping create better opportunities for young people to build successful careers in Albania,” President Begaj emphasized.

The President also praised the foundation’s contributions to cybersecurity, as well as its initiatives to preserve cultural heritage, promote tourism, and support local economic development, including projects in Butrint and the “Kala” neighborhood of Elbasan.

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The boycott involves students from the University of Medicine, the Agricultural University of Tirana, the Polytechnic University, the Faculties of Law and Economics, and the Faculty of Philology.

A group of medical students marched toward the Faculty of Natural Sciences, calling on students there to join their protest.

High school students from the “Partizani” school in the capital have also joined the demonstration.

During their march, protesters chanted slogans including “Your time is up,” “Resign,” and “Join us,” urging others to take part in the demonstration.

This marks the second consecutive day of student protests, following several hours of demonstrations along Tirana’s main streets yesterday.

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Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at AKSHA’s new premises, attended by AADF Board Chairman Michael Granoff, representatives of the Ministry of Education and AADF board members and executives, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and investing in an education services system that meets contemporary needs, with quality, transparency and public trust at its core.

“Strengthening the AKSHA institution is a noble decision aimed at ensuring public trust in public services. We will review our portfolio of services, not only in terms of the range of public services we offer, but also their quality. Just a few years ago, we could not have imagined state examinations shifting from paper to screen, and from doubt to trust. We have chosen to undertake this journey with AADF because you have provided us with the right model,” Minister Kumbaro said.

The investment, worth $2.7 million and supported by AADF, includes the construction of new premises, the installation of modern technological infrastructure and the provision of adequate facilities for administering national examinations and examinations for regulated professions.

“The reform of this institution aims to strengthen trust in institutions at a time when distrust is rising worldwide across all sectors. However, through the new AKSHA, testing and certification will be backed by guarantees of authenticity. We will be confident that a teacher or a doctor has genuinely earned the certification issued by the state to qualify them for their work. The same will apply to every profession for which AKSHA grants the right to practise,” said Michael D. Granoff, Chairman of the AADF Board.

Cooperation with Cambridge University’s Assessment Centre has also played an important role in transforming the Educational Services Centre into the National Agency for Educational Services. The centre has provided assistance in analysing challenges within the system, including test quality, data use and exam administration standards.

The new building will cover an area of approximately 3,500 m², compared with the 740 m² of the current premises. Capacity for digital examinations will increase from 57 to 213 testing stations, while the new workspaces will allow staff numbers to grow from 35 to around 90 employees.
The new facilities will include five digital testing rooms, five monitoring rooms, dedicated spaces for the preparation and secure storage of examination materials, as well as training rooms, support facilities and infrastructure adapted for people with disabilities.
These improvements aim to create the conditions for more efficient and secure assessment management, bringing the examination system into line with more modern standards.

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The latest episode of the “Flasim” podcast is dedicated to children with disabilities and the challenges facing their families.

Prime Minister Rama’s guests on the episode, titled “You Are Not Alone”, were Niko Dylgjeri, a young man on the autism spectrum, and his mother, Eglantina Bajrami. They spoke about the difficulties they faced along their journey, as well as the progress achieved through great dedication.

Rama also welcomed Kristina Kasemi, a teaching assistant, who spoke about the challenges of working with children with special needs.

Rama said the discussion is part of the government’s efforts to enter a new phase in the relationship between institutions and these children and their parents, by engaging the parents themselves, who are at the forefront of this effort.

“Parents’ efforts are constant and ongoing, while our aim is to do everything possible, starting with the establishment of a National Council for Children with Disabilities. We will then move forward based on the leadership, guidance and recommendations of the council, which will bring together representatives of institutions, parents and teachers,” Rama said.

Rama stressed that the government has increased the number of teaching assistants, but the need remains significant. The Prime Minister therefore assured that the number of teaching assistants will continue to increase year by year.

Eglantina, chairwoman of the “National Club of Parents of Children with ASD / Autism Speaks” Association, expressed concern that there is currently no form of support or provision for young people over the age of 18.

“We cannot provide developmental therapy because it is available only up to the age of 15. Instead, we need to move towards skills-based therapy to help them develop the skills they need for everyday life. They need to be supported, accepted and given access to such programmes so they can develop these skills. There are also no residential centres for those who do not have parents,” she stressed.

She praised the measures taken by the government, including doubling the allowance for children with disabilities and covering health and social insurance contributions for all caregivers of people with disabilities.

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Speaking at the Euronews 2026 Summit, where he discussed the future of tourism and investment in Albania, Rama said the project had been made possible by the country’s growing openness to investors and its considerable tourism potential.

Rama said Albania’s openness to investors and its tourism potential could attract a major investment of €6 billion or more between Sazan Island and the Zvërnec Peninsula, describing the project as potentially one of Europe’s largest tourism investments in years.

Rama said investment models could vary, including foreign capital, joint ventures, public-private partnerships and the involvement of Albanian companies.

According to him, Albania aims to develop high-end tourism that places less strain on the country while generating greater revenues for the domestic economy.

“It can involve 100% foreign capital, it can be a joint venture, it can be a public-private partnership, or Albanian companies can also become involved. We have Albanian companies that are in a position to take this step we are talking about, perhaps not with a four-, five- or six-billion-euro resort like the one you have also taken care to mention, but with quite luxurious, high-end hotels,” the Prime Minister stressed.

He said Albania should welcome both domestic and international investors, rather than isolate itself, and seek to become a small but distinctive part of Europe’s tourism landscape.

Rama said Albania needs to change its international image by highlighting its safety and tourism potential. He argued that developing luxury tourism could attract higher-value visitors, reduce the strain on tourist areas and bring more revenue into the economy and local communities.

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