The State Department has yet to respond to the increasing corruption issues in Albania, a significant ally for the U.S. in the Balkans. An Albanian court removed Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Baruch, accusing her of meddling in two construction projects. However, Prime Minister Edi Rama challenged this decision in the Constitutional Court, and recent reports indicate that Baruch has been reinstated while awaiting a final ruling.
On October 31, the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Agency (SPAK) charged Baruch with improperly influencing decisions to favor a company for a tunnel construction project in southern Albania. Further charges were added on November 21, aligning with her dismissal, linked to violations in a separate road construction project in Tirana.
Before a court hearing in November, Baruch characterized the allegations against her as a mix of “conspiracy, innuendo, half-truths, and lies.” Her legal troubles are notable, marking the second cabinet member under Rama to face corruption claims this year, sparking significant frustration among the opposition.
Agim Nesho, Albania’s former ambassador to the U.S. and the U.N., expressed to Fox News Digital that Rama’s administration seems reluctant to take moral responsibility. He suggested that the government appears to be protecting Baruch and framing judicial actions as attacks on itself. Nesho believes that influencing the Constitutional Court may be a strategy to create a precedent that could shield Rama if investigations were to extend to him.
“It’s becoming more evident that the emperor has no clothes,” Nesho stated, criticizing Rama’s leadership as “state capture” that has led to consistent corruption over several terms.
Meanwhile, recently arrested former President Berisha claims his charges are politically motivated. Protests have erupted in Albania, with citizens showing discontent towards Rama’s governance, notably following the arrest of Tirana’s mayor on corruption charges.
Nesho claims that both Baruch and former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetazi pointed to Rama’s involvement in major decisions related to public assets. While Rama dismissed Ahmetazi’s claims, insisting that Albanian politics is free from mafia influence, the U.S. is financially backing Albania’s judicial reforms to combat corruption as part of its EU membership efforts. However, these reforms have seemingly resulted in legal stagnation, leading to public frustration and unrest.
“I don’t get how a government acting like a banana republic could join the EU,” Nesho remarked, emphasizing the stark contrast between Albania’s supposed legal order and its reality. Despite multifaceted corruption allegations against Rama, he remains firmly in power.
Allegations linking Rama to the Sinaloa cartel surfaced when he met with Luftar Haiza, an individual sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury. Rama claims their meeting was brief and isolated.
The public’s discontent with Rama has led to him being nicknamed “Ramaduro,” a nod to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, reflecting sentiments of accountability, misuse of public resources, and the absence of consequences. While the Prime Minister’s media channels refrained from commenting on Nesho’s allegations, his government remains fortified despite the surrounding unrest.
In May 2021, Sali Berisha faced U.S. sanctions over corruption claims, and inquiries about similar actions against Baruch have been met with a noncommittal response from the State Department, which has said it does not comment on ongoing legal issues.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana echoed this sentiment when approached about Baruch’s visa status following her dismissal.
