Special Court of Appeals: Sali Berisha to remain under house arrest
The Special Court of Appeals against Corruption and Organized Crime dealt Sali Berisha a significant blow today by refusing to release him and his son-in-law from house arrest.
Why is this relevant
Just one day after the Special Immigration Appeals Commission upheld the UK Home Office’s decision to declare Sali Berisha persona non-grata, the leader of the Democratic Party has suffered another serious legal setback that risks compromising his and the opposition’s political future.
Context
Sali Berisha and his son-in-law were remanded to house arrest on December 30, 2023, in connection with an investigation by the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, which is probing them for corruption in the privatization of a sports complex in Tirana. However, this latest refusal by the Special Court of Appeals against Corruption and Organized Crime to release Berisha from house arrest risks having serious implications for his political career. According to Albanian law, a member of Parliament who does not participate in parliamentary work for more than 6 months without a legitimate reason loses their mandate.
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