On May 19, 2021, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly declared the former president and former prime minister Sali Berisha a person “non grata” for corruption and undermining democracy. A year later, on July 19, 2022, Great Britain took the same decision, not publicly.
Sali Berisha mentioned only part of the motives for the case, and then accused and attacked the British ambassador in Tirana, Alastair King-Smith, with the claim of unproven facts, or that he, along with Rama and Basha, was put on the British blacklist.
But this 35-page document, which Top Channel’s Muhamed Veliu has exclusively, submitted to the “Special Commission of Immigration Appeals”, contrary to the claims of the former democratic prime minister, shows the mechanisms of who initiated this punishment for the historical leader of the opposition DP.
In the process against Berisha, the findings of the British National Crime Agency, presented on July 14, 2021, is included, where the problem of what is known as “state capture”. The project of the British government “Crime State Nexus” gives this conclusion about the links between crime and politics in Albania.
“The links between politics and crime in the Western Balkans create an enabling environment in which criminals and organized crime groups can operate and benefit from the political protection of corrupt politicians from law enforcement activities. This political protection also provides Organized Crime Organizations with additional avenues to launder money, also these groups help a politician during elections by buying votes and intimidating voters.”
Based on these data, the Secretary of State accepted the recommendation on July 19, 2022 and ordered the ban on Mr. Berisha from entering Great Britain. There are three episodes with three concrete characters that connect Mr. Berisha with corruption and organized crime.
“A series of articles were made available to the appellant where accusations were made about the construction of an energy park from which Mrs. Malltezi (Berisha’s daughter) was involved and had benefited. The investigation against Damir Fazlic had intense political pressure on the prosecutors from the government.”
On page 13 of this document, it is stated that Mr. Berisha submitted 600 pages of testimony and evidence which were taken into consideration by the Secretary of State, but decided to leave the decision in effect as he had sufficient data available.
“This includes an assessment of a significant level of corruption that took place throughout Berisha’s tenure as Prime Minister, either by himself or by members of his party, which, due to the level of control over the party, should have been you know me BERISHA intervened in the investigation about FAZLIC and that FAZLIC’s purchase of the land bordering the Porto Romano energy park, happened as he had insider knowledge. It is also estimated that BERISHA has benefited from connections with criminals and criminal activity”.
While on page 17, referring to internal reports of English government departments, it is concluded that:
“Appellant Sali Berisha abused his power by appointing corrupt officials, intervened in the Albanian justice system to protect subordinates from investigations. He undertook illegal surveillance of political opponents. The internal reports further show a clear panorama of the spread of corruption during Berisha’s governing period especially before the 2013 elections. This was used for his own interests, or to help his allies buying political support.”
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