Former New York City mayor Eric Adams obtains Albanian citizenship

Key Points:

• Eric Adams, former New York City mayor, has been granted Albanian citizenship and a passport through a special decree by Albania’s president, Bajram Begaj, confirmed by Adams’s spokesperson and published in Albania’s official government journal.
• Adams visited Albania in October during his mayoral tenure, praising the capital Tirana and discussing enhanced collaboration in tourism and technology with Prime Minister Edi Rama, including support for a direct flight between New York and Albania.
• Adams’s political career saw turmoil as he withdrew from the 2025 mayoral race amid a federal corruption case, later endorsing Andrew Cuomo and criticizing progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani, who ultimately won and became New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
• Adams faces a sexual assault lawsuit dating back to 1993, which he denies; the city ceased representing him in the case after Mamdani took office, and the plaintiff alleges Adams demanded a sexual favor for career advancement.
• Albania grants citizenship to foreign adults deemed to be in the national interest without public safety risks, with Adams’s spokesperson framing the citizenship as a symbol of international partnership and mutual respect between New York and Albania.