Diber vote buying, 2016 partial elections (File 184)
Status: Dismissed (Dec 2020) as time-barred.
Summary
Wiretaps published by Bild showed alleged vote buying and threats in the Diber region ahead of the 2016 partial local elections. Arben Keshi, an Interior Ministry official, appears in nearly all 16 recordings. Serious Crimes prosecutors said there was no structured criminal group, only vote buying, and sent the file to the Diber prosecutor.
Diber prosecutors took four defendants to court, then asked to dismiss the case. On 18 Dec 2020 the case was dismissed because the three-year limitation period had run from September 2016. No senior person was convicted. Opposition figures (PD) call the case proof of election manipulation by the governing side. Others say the case was built by prosecutors linked to the opposition. The sources do not show any link to Balluku.
Key facts
- Offence date: September 2016 (per prosecutors).
- Recordings: 16 published by Bild; Arben Keshi in nearly all.
- Serious Crimes prosecution: no structured criminal group found, vote buying only.
- Dismissed 18 Dec 2020 for limitation.
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 case was dismissed as time-barred (court decision as reported).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationOrganised election manipulation by the governing side (PD statements).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationVote buying and threats to voters in Diber (recordings; PD statements).
Open questions (2)
- Why did it take four years to reach a court, and why was the offence time-barred?
- Did the Keshi recordings get forensic review?
Responses (0)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
Nothing recorded in this list.
Figures
Money trail →Diber File 184: dismissal (time-barred), no amount
No amount recorded
otherSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: No money figure. Vote-buying case; price per vote not stated in this source.
Date: 18 Dec 2020 · Payer: not applicable · Payee: not applicable
- Dosja 184 prokuroria Dibër kërkon pushimin e çështjes (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · Dec 2020 · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →Court
Diber prosecutors dismiss File 184 vote-buying case as time-barred
Diber prosecutors ruled that the three-year statute of limitations had run from September 2016. The case, which included Arben Keshi and three others, was dismissed without a conviction.
Connections
Named in nearly all 16 recordings; case dismissed
Evidence: Shqiptarja (Dec 2020): dismissal, time-barred.
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
- Dec 2020
Source label: DisputedDisputed · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- exit.al
- Date
- unknown