Berisha returns to PD headquarters, targets SPAK over Elbasan gang case

After a three-day absence following a court decision that lifted his house arrest, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha returned to the party’s headquarters for a press conference. Speaking to journalists, Berisha centered his remarks on the latest case from the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), involving the Elbasan gang led by the fugitive Suel Çela. The court has issued 21 arrest warrants, not only for members of the criminal organization but also for judges, lawyers, and journalists allegedly involved. However, Berisha claimed that high-profile Socialist Party figures are also implicated but are being shielded by SPAK’s head, Altin Dumani.

Why is this important: Berisha’s attacks on SPAK appear to be part of a personal vendetta against the institution. His criticism has escalated over the past year after SPAK launched investigations into him and his son-in-law over allegations of corruption related to the privatization of the former Partizani sports complex. Over the year Berisha has launched countless accusations against SPAK in an effort to delegitimize it and make it appear as if SPAK is under political control.

Context: During the press conference, Berisha announced plans to present documents that he claims will expose links between the Socialist Party’s Taulant Balla and Suel Çela’s gang. Balla, a former political leader of the Socialist Party in Elbasan, served as Minister of the Interior for one year and currently holds the position of Minister of State for Parliamentary Relations. Berisha alleges that Dumani and SPAK are deliberately ignoring evidence against high-ranking Socialist officials, accusing SPAK of being a “criminal organization.”

“I would never call an institution a criminal organization without proof. But there are undeniable, official documents that will show the true face of Altin Dumani and how he sleeps on crime files,” Berisha said. 

The Elbasan gang case: SPAK’s investigation into the Elbasan gang began after information was extracted from encrypted messaging platforms Sky ECC and EncroChat. The prosecutor’s office has submitted over 200 pages of intercepted communications between gang members, detailing their involvement in trafficking and murder. However, public outrage has intensified due to evidence of direct links between the gang and key figures in the judiciary and media.

Berisha’s allegations: Berisha intensified his attacks against SPAK, accusing it of selective justice and shielding Socialist Party members from accountability. He specifically targeted Altin Dumani, claiming that the prosecutor is deliberately ignoring evidence of crimes linked to high-ranking political figures.

Berisha also criticized SPAK’s handling of the Elbasan gang case, alleging that the prosecutor’s office is protecting criminals with political connections. He announced plans to release documents that he claims will expose the extent of political collusion with criminal organizations.

In the past, Berisha himself has been accused of cooperating with the Elbasan gang. In 2021 he was accused by the current head of the DP parliamentary group of working closely with Suel Cela and the Elbasan gang in order to rig the DP primaries in Elbasan in favor of Berisha.  

SPAK’s role and public perception: SPAK, widely regarded as one of the most credible institutions in Albania, enjoys overwhelming support among Albanians and significant support from international partners, including the EU and the United States. Berisha’s attacks on SPAK coincide with his ongoing legal battles. Many analysts view his rhetoric as an attempt to discredit the institution ahead of potential legal consequences in his own case.