Azgan Haklaj barred from entering North Macedonia at Bllata (Debar) crossing
Haklaj says he was refused entry on 27 September 2026 and told he is considered a threat to national public security.
On 27 September 2026 former Albanian MP Azgan Haklaj was stopped at the Bllata (Debar) border crossing and denied entry to North Macedonia when he attempted to travel to Skopje to take part in a protest, Haklaj told reporters.
Haklaj said the border authorities handed him a document and informed him that he could not enter the country because he was considered “a threat to national public security.” He added that border officers told him to sign the paper: "Sign it."
According to Haklaj, the ban is linked to his public support for the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and to rallies held in Tirana and Skopje in support of four former KLA leaders recently convicted by the Specialist Chambers. He said the measure is recorded in what he described as a national ‘stop list’ used for security reasons.
Haklaj said he contacted several political figures and diplomats to clarify the situation, naming DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, Ambassador Denion Mejdani, former deputy speaker Rafis Aliti and MP Arber Ademi among those he informed. He also said he was told that the decision had not been taken by the police but by the country’s intelligence service.
"They explained that my detention is due to the support I gave to the KLA and to the rallies organised in Tirana and Skopje," Haklaj said. He told local media he will again raise the case with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to request removal from the list.
Haklaj travelled toward Skopje accompanied by Albanian journalist Ferdinand Samarxhiu; Haklaj says only he was stopped at the crossing. He added the restrictions began after a demonstration on 17 October last year at Skënderbeg Square in Tirana and that he has been stopped several times when crossing into North Macedonia since then.
Photo: press material from the event
