Albania - July 2023

Parliament accepts prosecution request to arrest former Deputy Prime Minister

On 14 July, the Parliament voted to revoke parliamentary immunity of former Deputy Prime Minister and current MP Arben Ahmetaj, who is charged with corruption and money laundering. After the arrest warrant was issued, Ahmetaj reportedly fled the country, and is now internationally wanted. Ahmetaj was serving as an MP after being dismissed from his position as a Deputy Prime Minister (which he held twice) in 2022, following the conclusion of a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee regarding his involvement in a corruption scandal. The commission questioned top politicians, including Prime Minister Edi Rama and Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj. Although high-level corruption is not uncommon in the country, Ahmetaj is one of the highest-ranking politicians ever to face such charges in Albania.

Sources: Euronews Albania, Top Channel (1), Top Channel (2), Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), Balkan Insight (3), Euractiv