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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However,” he added, “SPAK has a major flaw: it covers up election crimes for the ruling party. It has over 51 files and 1,500 pages of evidence against Edi Rama and his ministers—backed by OSCE-ODIHR reports—and hasn’t touched a single one. For Albania and the rule of law, this is SPAK’s biggest failure. As long as it turns a blind eye to election crimes, it stands against political pluralism. Forgiving election fraud destroys the free vote and damages true political competition. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Speaking to reporters outside the prosecution office, Berisha said the proposed amendments could make criminal investigations more difficult and criticised SPAK for not publicly commenting on them.

“Can the central prosecutorial institution for public officials, SPAK, remain silent in the face of a law that paralyses investigations?” Berisha said.

He also criticised provisions he said would restrict the media’s ability to inform the public and would require prosecutors to submit evidence to a judge for approval without conducting a judicial assessment, which he said would effectively turn judges into investigators.

Berisha said the public interest and the rule of law required prosecutors to have the ability to fully investigate anyone suspected of wrongdoing.

He also referred to the Council of Europe, saying he had been informed during a recent visit to Strasbourg that the organisation did not support the latest amendments.

Berisha also criticised changes to the rules of the Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO), describing them as “open dictatorship” and comparing them with the handling of files by Albania’s communist-era State Security service.

He called on journalists to respond to what he described as dangerous censorship imposed by the changes.

Berisha is under investigation in the “Partizani” case, which concerns alleged corruption linked to the redevelopment of a former sports complex in Tirana.

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“SPAK is one of the best things that has happened to Albania in the past 35 years. I have no doubt about that,” Rama said.

He said the justice reform had not eliminated corruption but had stripped it of its “immunity from justice.”

“SPAK is a new institution. It will make its own mistakes and have its own shortcomings, but this is the only way forward. The institution will grow, become stronger and gain experience,” Rama said.

The government head also said he had had no prior communication with SPAK over investigations into senior officials and considered the prosecution office independent of the government.

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SPAK said that prosecutors have requested a preventive seizure of real estate in Palasa, which they suspect is secretly owned by the former minister.

The investigation results that the defendant Belinda Balluku has in de facto ownership the immovable property “Family Villa 2F no.188/1, Nukli 27”, in the “Green Coast” complex, Palasa, Himara, which has resulted to be a hidden asset.

To hide this undeclared asset, the defendant Belinda Balluku used citizen Igli Tare, carrying out fictitious actions through the undertaking contract, dated 26.10.2020, in the amount of 250,000 euros, said SPAK. /r.e/p.s./

The government Rama made the comments in a preview of a new episode of his “Let’s Talk” (Flasim) podcast, featuring journalist Rudina Xhunga, who is due to ask him 330 questions in a marathon interview.

In excerpts released on social media, Rama also criticised the role of prosecutors and judges in political affairs, saying judicial institutions should not assume powers belonging to elected political institutions.

“A prosecutor, together with another, joined forces and decided to become the prime minister, parliament and president. I cannot accept that,” Rama said.

He also criticised SPAK’s communication with the media.

“One of the worst things SPAK has done is use the media to smear those it was going to charge. This should not happen,” Rama said.

Commenting on the situation in Tirana Municipality, Rama described its current leadership as “a social and economic experiment”, referring to the fact that Mayor Erion Veliaj remains in pre-trial detention.

“The municipality has no head. It is a social and economic experiment to run a capital city without a head,” Rama said.

Rama also rejected claims that Albania was selling off Sazan, an island off the country’s southern coast that has been the subject of a proposed tourism development.

“They are not buying the island, nor are they taking ownership of it. That island will remain the property of the Republic of Albania … I am not the seller of Albania,” Rama said.

The prime minister also reflected on his political career and the relationship between power and individuals, saying: “It was a great political talent that could not bear the weight. Power is a monstrous beast; it has consumed and absorbed many men.”

The full “Flasim Shqip” episode with Xhunga is expected to be released as part of the new season of Rama’s podcast.

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SPAK chief prosecutor Klodjan Braho attended IDEC40, a major global forum organised by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, focused on operational integration, coordination and avoiding duplication in efforts against transnational criminal organisations, including foreign terrorist organisations designated by the United States.

Following IDEC40, SPAK prosecutors held 12 high-level meetings with counterparts from the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, Ukraine, Paraguay and Argentina, strengthening ties and operational coordination needed to identify and disrupt transnational threats across Europe, Latin America and the United States.

SPAK said it remained committed to strengthening cooperation with international partners and combating transnational organised crime wherever it operates.

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According to media reports, Braho said that during the first seven months of the current year, there have been probed 16 high-level officials and former officials, while there have been seized assets worth around 440 million euros.

Braho said that during this period, there were probed five mayors or former mayors, five heads of institutions, three judges or former judges, two ministers or former ministers and one MP.

Braho said that the SPAK officers have seized over 150,000 square meters of real estate, more than 60 villas, apartments, and hotels, over 10 companies, more than 620 bank accounts and roughly 100 vehicles and vessels. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

“Our only hope now is a massive, peaceful uprising of the people to bring an end to Edi Rama’s government,” said Berisha.

“It’s clear that Edi Rama operates as if the Constitution and the rule of law don’t exist, reducing SPAK to an extension of the Socialist Party,” Berisha said.

According to him, the only hope is what he described as a powerful peaceful popular uprising” for the removal of PM Rama.

Berisha called on members and supporters of the Democratic Party to support the youth civic protest, which has been going on for more than 50 days.

“I call on the entire Democratic Party family to stand firmly behind the youth civic protest, which has bravely held the front line for over 50 days,” Berisha said. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

After leaving SPAK, Berisha spoke to reporters reiterating his accusations against heads of the justice institutions.

“Justice may be delayed, but it is never denied”, said Berisha, while pointing at the former head of SPAK Altin Dumani, calling him “the lawyer of the Albanian narco-state”.

He also pointed at the Constitutional Court’s decision-making regarding the law on strategic investments, the protection of cultural heritage and protected areas, reminding that these matters have been opposed by the opposition.

“The DP parliamentary group has opposed in the Parliament and sent to the Constitutional Court the strategic investment law. The Constitutional Court maintained the law, ignoring strong pushback from the European Commission and the European Union”, said Berisha.

The Special Court of the First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime has passed the file of the former “Partizani” sports complex for trial. The former prime minister Sali Berisha is accused of the criminal offense of “Passive corruption of high state officials”. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./