SPAK: What did the prosecutors achieve in Albania during the first year?

It’s been one year since the formation of the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) in December 19^th 2019. Initially there were eight prosecutors appointed and later, during 2020, five more were added.

But what has SPAK achieved during their first year?

The special structure has made a balance sheet on their first year, describing it as successful.

In the first 12 days of their work, there were 225 criminal proceedings registered. Most of them were given by the General Prosecutor Office. The other part by the Local Prosecutor Offices.

More than half of the files were related to organized crime and corruption.

Meanwhile, during 2020, 343 criminal proceedings were registered. Half of them related to organized crime and corruption, too.

In total, during the first year, there were 162 proceedings for organized crime, 240 for corruption and 166 other proceedings.

But which have been the hottest files?

One of the hottest files registered by SPAK is file 184. The investigations included some tapes published by BILD German journalist, Peter Tiede. In these tapes it was pretended that the votes for Mayor in Dibër were stolen and manipulated by exponents of the Socialist Party (SP).

The opposition accused SP’s MP, Damian Gjiknuri, for being the main exponent of the votes stealing. Accused were also the current Mayor of Dibër, Dionis Imeraj and current Mayor of Mati, Agron Malaj.

The case was moved many times between Tirana and Dibra. When it arrived in SPAK, the special structure said that it wasn’t in their jurisdiction to investigate on the case. It was settled later in Dibra’s Prosecution Office.

The case was closed with the accusation of four people. No big names were taken in court. The highest exponent accused was ex-chief of Dibra’s Police, Robert Aga.

After this decision there were reaction from the opposition in Albania. Spokesmen from the Democratic Party and Socialist Movement for Integration stated that “Prime Minister Rama and members of the SP involved were not accused”. They said “Dibra’s prosecutors and SPAK were not doing their job properly”.

The number two of SMI, Petrit Vasili, considered SPAK “a bigger disappointment than the General Prosecutors Office”.

What is file 339?

Another hot file in the hands of SPAK was the case 339. It contains the files of four large criminal groups, including the group “Avdylaj” from Shijaku. In some tapes, ex-mayor of Durrës, Vangjus Dako, was mentioned. Part of the files is also group “Bajri”, accused for many killings.

One of the accused, Altin Avdylaj, part of the “Avdylaj” band, pretended the exclusion of judge Daniela Shirka from the case. He claims she has been partial in giving him a ten year sentence.

Avdylaj has requested many times to be freed. Ex-mayor Dako, despite being mentioned in the tapes, never was part of the investigations.