Belinda Balluku: tender charges and KESH energy allegations (energy-related part of the SPAK file)
Status: Under investigation and prosecution. Suspension and travel ban in place from November 2025 (as reported). Energy-trading allegation unconfirmed by SPAK.
Summary
SPAK's Balluku file, as reported, concerns tender-equality violations for the Llogara tunnel and Lot 4 of the Tirana Outer Ring Road. The Special Court (GJKKO) suspended Balluku from office and barred her from leaving Albania in November 2025 (Albanian Daily News and OCCRP reporting). Energy-specific allegations are weaker in the sources reviewed. The opposition Democratic Party alleges that KESH traded electricity illegally on the minister's order, buying high and selling cheap to private firms outside the exchange (party allegation, Shqiptarja). Gazment Bardhi (DP group leader) filed a complaint with SPAK in December 2024 alleging abuse of at least EUR 180 million a year in tenders and a KESH solar tender at the Zadeja dam (about EUR 8.13m contract vs about EUR 3m comparable, per Bardhi). A GJKKO case brought by KESH and OSHEE against Bardhi for defamation ended with his acquittal (Shqiptarja headline). No SPAK charge over electricity purchases or sales was found in the sources reviewed. Balluku is presumed innocent; she was reported to have been dismissed in a February 2026 reshuffle while under indictment (European Western Balkans).
Key facts
- Balluku suspended from duties and banned from leaving Albania by GJKKO, reported 19-20 November 2025 (Albanian Daily News).
- Reported tender values: Llogara tunnel limit about EUR 190m and Lot 4 about EUR 20m, total about EUR 210m (search summary; not confirmed on an opened page).
- Reported house-arrest orders for KESH head Erald Elezi and ARRSH head Gentian Gjyli, sourced to non-official outlets in Albanian Daily News; not confirmed.
- Bardhi's complaint to SPAK (Dec 2024) cites KESH solar tender at the Zadeja dam; Shqiptarja headline gives a damage figure of about EUR 5 million.
- KESH and OSHEE defamation action against Bardhi: Special Court acquitted Bardhi (Shqiptarja headline; date not shown).
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 (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- The GJKKO suspended Balluku and imposed a travel ban (court measures, as reported).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThe tender-manipulation charges, the KESH electricity-trading claim, and the EUR 180m annual figure.
Allegations and who made them (3)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationBalluku favoured specific bidders in the Llogara tunnel and Ring Road Lot 4 tenders (SPAK charges as reported).
- AllegationKESH illegally traded electricity on the minister's order (Democratic Party allegation; not a SPAK charge in sources reviewed).
- AllegationAbuse of at least EUR 180m a year in tenders benefiting four or five private firms (Bardhi's complaint, as reported by Balkanweb headline).
Open questions (4)
- Whether SPAK has charged anyone over KESH electricity purchases or sales. Not found.
- Current status of the Llogara and Ring Road charges and any trial date (not found).
- Exact status of Erald Elezi and Viola Haxhiademi (KESH director, reported as questioned in a Balkanweb-based summary; source URL not captured, so not recorded as a legal status).
- Whether the Zadeja dam tender value and the 'EUR 5 million' damage figure are the same sum as in Bardhi's complaint.
Responses (3)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Balluku's public response: she denies wrongdoing and is presumed innocent. Her detailed statements were not retrieved in the sources read.
- Gazment Bardhi says the 180m figure and KESH tender abuses are unlawful and that SPAK should investigate; he was acquitted in the KESH/OSHEE defamation suit (Shqiptarja headline).
- Democratic Party allegation on KESH electricity trading: party statement, no official response found.
Figures
Money trail →KESH solar tender at Zadeja dam: alleged excess cost
€5,000,000
Incomplete figuretenderSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Allegation by MP Gazment Bardhi (headline figure: EUR 5m damage). Per the same allegation, the contract was about EUR 8.13m (97% of limit fund) vs about EUR 3m for a comparable privately built project. Incomplete; unverified.
Date: unknown · Payer: KESH · Payee: Contractor (not named in reviewed text)
- Denoncimi i Gazment Bardhit: SPAK te hetoje dyshen Balluku-Verdho; dem shtetit 5 milion euro me tenderin e diges se Zadeja (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · unknown · political-statement · SQ
Tender value cited for Balluku / KESH tender abuse allegations
€180,000,000
Incomplete figuretenderSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Headline figure ('tenders worth 180 mln euro'); Bardhi's complaint says abuse of at least EUR 180m per year. Not a SPAK finding. Incomplete: no breakdown seen.
Date: Dec 2024 · Payer: Public contracting authorities (per allegation) · Payee: Private firms (per allegation)
- Akuzoi Ballukun dhe KESH-in per abuzime me tenderat ne vlere 180 mln euro (opens in a new tab)Balkanweb · unknown · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
Gazment Bardhi files complaint with SPAK against Balluku over tenders and Zadeja dam
Democratic Party group leader Bardhi filed a complaint alleging abuse of tenders worth at least EUR 180m a year and a KESH solar tender at the Zadeja dam. Date from search summary.
Court
Special Court suspends Deputy PM Balluku and bans her from leaving Albania
Decision reported as issued 19 November 2025 and made public 20 November. Charges: violation of equality in public procurement (Llogara tunnel; Ring Road Lot 4). Investigation ongoing; presumed innocent.
Government
Indicted Deputy PM Balluku dismissed in government reshuffle
Reported by European Western Balkans. Dismissal is a government act; her indictment and the court measures are separate.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 7 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 7 sources
- Publisher
- OCCRP
- Date
- Nov 2025
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 20 Nov 2025
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- European Western Balkans
- Date
- 27 Feb 2026