EU denies DP affiliated media claims of interference in OSCE Election Report

The European Union Delegation in Tirana has denied allegations published by Syri.net, a media outlet closely aligned with Sali Berisha’s family, which claimed that EU officials intervened to remove names from the OSCE/ODIHR’s preliminary election report. The EU labeled the claims “untrue” and reaffirmed the independence of OSCE/ODIHR’s monitoring process.

Why is this important: The allegations sought to discredit the OSCE/ODIHR report, a key reference for assessing the integrity of Albania’s May 11 elections. By suggesting that EU officials protected individuals accused of electoral crimes, the claims feed into the opposition’s broader narrative of institutional bias and a corrupt diplomatic corp. The EU’s firm denial highlights growing concerns over disinformation targeting democratic institutions.

Context: The Syri.net article accused EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato of pressuring OSCE/ODIHR to remove names of “gang members, police chiefs, and officials” allegedly involved in electoral wrongdoing in Elbasan. The EU Delegation responded that such claims are false and harmful to public trust. OSCE/ODIHR reports are produced independently and based solely on verified findings by its field observers.

Berisha and his allies have frequently cast doubt on international observers and ambassadors accredited in Albania whenever they have gone against their interests, accusing them of shielding the Socialist government or being in cahoots with Edi Rama in order to destroy the opposition.

A couple of days ago, a prominent Berisha ally, the head of the Democratic Party’s Department of Press and Communication, was forced to deny a false report published in his own media outlet, which falsely claimed that Donald Trump Jr. had canceled a dinner with Edi Rama and endorsed Berisha — a story publicly debunked by Trump Jr. and Richard Grenell.

With polls predicting a landslide loss for the Democratic Party, the narrative of external interference appears aimed at contesting the legitimacy of the result. The EU’s rebuttal signals a rare and direct pushback against opposition-aligned media narratives.