Former Socialist MP sentenced to 2 years in prison for electoral corruption
The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime sentenced former Socialist MP Jurgis Çyrbja to two years in prison after finding him guilty of electoral corruption, revealing state secrets, and aiding a crime perpetrator.
Why is this important: This is one of the most high-profile convictions of a former MP by the anti-corruption court, reflecting SPAK’s continued use of intercepted communications from the encrypted app Sky ECC as key evidence in corruption cases tied to political influence and organized crime.
Context: SPAK launched the investigation after decrypting conversations from Sky ECC, a messaging platform often used by criminal networks. Investigators uncovered exchanges in which Çyrbja allegedly tipped off known individuals under police surveillance about upcoming law enforcement operations. In return, those contacts were expected to mobilize electoral support for him.
Çyrbja was originally sentenced to three years, but received a reduced sentence under summary trial procedures, which cut the penalty by one-third.
Two other defendants were convicted in the same case:
- Altin Hajri, tried in absentia due to being on the run, received 2 years in prison for electoral corruption and disclosure of state secrets.
- Ahmet Masha was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months, also benefitting from a reduced sentence via summary trial.
During trial proceedings, all three defendants pleaded not guilty through their lawyers and requested acquittal.
What else: The case adds to a growing list of prosecutions where political figures are linked to organized crime through encrypted messaging platforms. While Çyrbja’s sentence is now final, police have yet to locate Hajri, who remains a fugitive.
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