Albanian Development Fund: SPAK investigation of director Dritan Agolli over the '100 villages' tenders
Status: Investigation reported since February 2022; director questioned (November 2024). No charges reported as of July 2026.
Summary
In January 2022 the Albanian Development Fund (FSHZH) awarded a tender of about 41 million lekë (about USD 400,000) to collect recipes, design menus and produce a guide-cookbook and a 12-episode documentary for the government's '100 villages' programme. The winner was Mascarpone sh.p.k., a company whose majority owner is a chef; Shqiptarja and Exit reported that he worked with a restaurant owned by the son of the Fund's director, Dritan Agolli. Shqiptarja reported that a rival group bid about USD 15,000 less and that the winning bid was almost exactly the fund limit. SPAK opened an investigation for abuse of office and corruption in February 2022, according to the press, and reportedly blocked the payment.
Agolli denied any conflict of interest and called the coverage pressure on the procurement. SPAK questioned him in November 2024. In July 2026 Gazeta Telegraf reported that he had been questioned on two files, money laundering through property and restaurants and abuse of office in the '100 villages' tenders, but had not been arrested, charged or suspended, and that the Fund had just opened two new tenders worth about 10.9 million euro. Telegraf's further claims (that the tenders are fictitious and that 110 million euro was taken from the programme) are the outlet's own and are not supported by documents in the sources reviewed.
Key facts
- Tender winner announced 27 January 2022: Mascarpone sh.p.k. with an individual co-bidder, 41,020,500 lekë against a 41,666,667 lekë limit (Shqiptarja).
- SPAK investigation for abuse of office and corruption reported on 2 February 2022 (Shqiptarja, Exit).
- SPAK questioned Dritan Agolli in November 2024; he had been re-appointed to head the Fund in January 2024 (Shqiptarja, tag page summary).
- On 29 June 2026 the Fund published two new tenders: road works with a 10.2 million euro limit and '100 villages' design/supervision with a 720,000 euro limit (Telegraf).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (0)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
Nothing recorded in this list.
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the January 2022 tender was steered to a company linked to the director's son.
- AllegationThat the director laundered money through property and restaurants (reported investigation file; no charge).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationShqiptarja (2022) reported suspicions that the payment could reach the director's son through the chef; this was not established.
- AllegationGazeta Telegraf (July 2026) alleges money laundering through property and restaurants by the director's family and calls the 2026 tenders 'fictitious'; these are the outlet's claims.
Open questions (3)
- Was the 2022 payment made or blocked?
- What are the two SPAK files on the director, and are they still open?
- Who won the June–July 2026 tenders?
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Dritan Agolli: 'Slander! I have no conflict of interest' (Shqiptarja, 2 Feb 2022).
- The Fund issued a statement denying corruption and detailing the project (Exit, 2 Feb 2022).
Figures
Money trail →Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
SPAK reported to investigate the Albanian Development Fund's '100 villages' menu tender
The tender went to a company majority-owned by a chef linked to a restaurant of the Fund director's son; the director denies a conflict of interest.
Government
Albanian Development Fund publishes two new tenders worth about 10.9 million euro while its director remains under investigation
Road works (10.2 million euro limit) and '100 villages' design and supervision (720,000 euro), per Gazeta Telegraf.
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
Heads of spending agencies stay in office and keep tendering while under SPAK investigation
The Development Fund's director was re-appointed in 2024 and opened new tenders in 2026 while SPAK files on him remained open, as with AKSHI before its director's arrest. If investigations do not lead to suspension, the same people keep control of large budgets during the probe.
Evidence for
- Agolli was re-appointed in January 2024 and questioned by SPAK in November 2024 (Shqiptarja).
- New Fund tenders of about 10.9 million euro were published in June 2026 (Telegraf).
- The AKSHI director kept running procurement until the 2025–2026 SPAK action (already in the archive).
Evidence against
- No charge has been filed against Agolli; an investigation is not a finding.
- Suspension requires a court measure, which SPAK may not have sought.
- Telegraf's claims about fictitious tenders are not backed by documents in the sources reviewed.
- Source label: Unverified
Heads of big spending agencies stay in charge of budgets while SPAK investigates them
The AKSHI director kept running procurement until SPAK acted; the head of the Albanian Development Fund was re-appointed in 2024 and opened new tenders worth about 10.9 million euro in 2026 while SPAK files on him remained open; roads agency (ARRSH) leaders were replaced only after charges. If investigation does not lead to suspension, the same people keep control of public money during the probe.
Evidence for
- Albanian Development Fund: director questioned by SPAK (November 2024); new tenders published 29 June 2026 (Telegraf).
- AKSHI: asset seizures over 40 million euro only in 2026.
- Former ARRSH head Evis Berberi is in custody in the Balluku file (October 2026).
Evidence against
- Suspension needs a court order, which prosecutors may not request.
- An investigation is not a finding; Agolli has not been charged.
- Some agency heads were removed quickly once charged.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 1 source
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 2 Feb 2022
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Exit News
- Date
- 2 Feb 2022
- Publisher
- Gazeta Telegraf
- Date
- 9 Jul 2026