Ilir Meta
Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tirana, Albania, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Albania’s president waded deep into the country's parliamentary election campaign Wednesday, accusing the left-wing government of running a “kleptocratic regime” and bungling its pandemic response. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ilir Meta also said he would step down if Prime Minister Edi Rama's Socialists — who are leading the main opposition conservatives in opinion polls — win Sunday's vote. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanian lawmakers to investigate president for impeachment

By Llazar Semini May. 07, 2021 09:12 AM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, April 21, 2021 file photo, Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tirana, Albania. Albania’s president has accused the U.S. ambassador of intervening in the small European country’s internal affairs by supporting its prime minister in an upcoming parliamentary election. Meta spoke harshly about Ambassador Yuri Kim during a television talk show on Friday, April 23, 2021. While the show was airing, Kim sent a text message to Meta and also tweeted about Sunday’s election. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina, File)
Albania’s Socialists seek to impeach nation's president

By Llazar Semini May. 03, 2021 12:43 PM EDT

Election officials wait in line to deliver ballot boxes to a counting center during parliamentary elections in capital Tirana, Albania on Sunday, April 25, 2021. Albanian voters have started casting ballots in parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter political rivalry between the country's two largest political parties. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Exit polls: Tight race in Albania's parliamentary vote

By Llazar Semini Apr. 25, 2021 01:03 AM EDT

Supporters of the Democratic Party waving Albanian and party flags participate in the political rally in capital Tirana, Albania on Friday, April 23, 2021.Albania holds parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter political rivalry between the country's two largest political parties but that will serve as a key milestone in the country's next step toward European Union membership. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Albania heads to polls after a bitter political fight

By Llazar Semini Apr. 23, 2021 04:15 AM EDT

Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tirana, Albania, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Albania’s president waded deep into the country's parliamentary election campaign Wednesday, accusing the left-wing government of running a “kleptocratic regime” and bungling its pandemic response. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ilir Meta also said he would step down if Prime Minister Edi Rama's Socialists — who are leading the main opposition conservatives in opinion polls — win Sunday's vote. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albania’s president harshly attacks PM ahead of Sunday polls

By Llazar Semini Apr. 21, 2021 12:12 PM EDT

'Essential' flights resume at Tirana Airport after strike

By Llazar Semini Apr. 08, 2021 07:10 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s infrastructure minister on Thursday said that “essential” flights have resumed at the country’s only international airport...

Protesters throw stones to riot police during clashes in Tirana, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Albanian demonstrators clashed in the third day on Friday protesting for the death of a 25-year-old man shot dead by a police officer. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanians hold a peaceful protest over police shooting

By Llazar Semini Dec. 14, 2020 11:34 AM EST

Protesters take part in a protest rally in Tirana, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Demonstrators in a northern Albanian city damaged the left-wing governing Socialist Party's offices and injured a police officer Saturday, authorities said, as part of ongoing protests this week after a fatal shooting by police enforcing a coronavirus curfew. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanians rally for 5th day after police kill man in curfew

By Llazar Semini Dec. 13, 2020 03:01 PM EST

Albanian policemen prepare for a protest rally in Tirana, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Demonstrators in a northern Albanian city damaged the left-wing governing Socialist Party's offices and injured a police officer Saturday, authorities said, as part of ongoing protests this week after a fatal shooting by police enforcing a coronavirus curfew. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanian police easily disperse smaller anti-police protest

By Llazar Semini Dec. 12, 2020 09:53 AM EST

Albanian police detain a protester as others try to release him during clashes in Tirana, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Albanian demonstrators clashed in the third day on Friday protesting for the death of a 25-year-old man shot dead by a police officer. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
3rd day of violence in Albania over police curfew killing

By Llazar Semini Dec. 11, 2020 07:53 AM EST