DP parliamentary group leader challenges SPAK over accusations involving PM Rama’s brother

Gazment Bardhi, the leader of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, has formally requested additional information from the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) regarding the recently concluded investigation into allegations against Prime Minister Edi Rama’s brother, Olsi Rama, in the “Xibraka” drug trafficking case. Bardhi has refused to accept the conclusions and demanded a copy of the prosecutor’s decision to close the case and the court ruling that accepted the request, which found no evidence linking Olsi Rama to any criminal activity.

Why is this important: Just days earlier, Bardhi was forced to retract accusations made in parliament against another individual, Edmond Sulaj, the former police director for Shkodër. Bardhi had accused Sulaj of being appointed by organized crime but immediately walked back those claims after the policeman filed a defamation lawsuit. He now faces a similar defamation lawsuit in the Olsi Rama case, with the Prime Minister announcing he is considering filing one as well.

Context: Last week, SPAK announced the closure of its investigation into Olsi Rama, stating that there was no evidence to support the allegations against him. However, Bardhi remains unconvinced, accusing the Prime Minister of exerting undue pressure on SPAK to influence the outcome. Bardhi claims that SPAK failed to conduct a thorough investigation and did not follow up on leads that could substantiate the allegations.

The controversy stems from accusations by DP that Olsi Rama was involved in the so-called “Xibraka” drug trafficking case. The accusations were originally brought forward by Bardhi and have been a central theme of the opposition’s criticism of the Prime Minister. However, SPAK concluded in its investigation that there was no evidence linking Olsi Rama to the alleged criminal activities.

Throughout this time, Prime Minister Rama has consistently stated that he would wait for SPAK to conclude its investigation before addressing Bardhi’s allegations. Rama had also repeatedly challenged Bardhi to provide any evidence he had to SPAK for review, but Bardhi never did so. On several occasions, Bardhi even created the impression he had submitted evidence, only for it to later be revealed that he had not.

Following the publication of SPAK’s response, Prime Minister Rama issued a lengthy public statement over the weekend, dismissing the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. Rama used the occasion to address what he described as three decades of politically driven attacks against him and his family, particularly by his longtime rival, Sali Berisha.

What did Bardhi say: In his letter to SPAK, Bardhi raised several key questions, including whether SPAK had cooperated or communicated with the Hanover Prosecutor’s Office during the investigation and whether then Interior Minister Taulant Balla, who publicly claimed to know the identity of an unnamed individual linked to the case, was ever questioned.

Next steps: With the case closed, the Prime Minister appears to be preparing for legal action against Bardhi. Rama’s long-standing call for SPAK to handle the investigation is likely to resonate as evidence of his restraint, contrasting with Bardhi’s more aggressive and now legally contentious accusations.

Bardhi finds himself in an embarrassing situation. It remains to be seen whether SPAK will provide the requested documents. Bardhi seems to be betting that it will not, thus allowing him some freedom to claim that the case was closed due to political calculations. However, in recent months Bardhi’s credibility has taken a number of hits, especially because of his decision to remain in DP and accept the leadership of Sali Berisha whom he had previously viciously attacked for using the party as a shield to protect himself and his family from his legal troubles and of cooperating with organized crime gangs to win over the Elbasan party branch.