SPAK electoral-crime proceedings for the 11 May 2025 parliamentary elections
Status: Ongoing. Some cases at trial stage (Fier, Vau i Deja); others open or unresolved in sources reviewed. Aggregate counts unreconciled.
Summary
SPAK ordered an election task force on 24 January 2025 and, according to media reports of its statements, opened criminal proceedings for the 11 May 2025 vote. The reported counts differ: 46 proceedings with 22 still under investigation (search snippet, source to be confirmed), 33 investigations (headline), and 18 proceedings as of early May 2025 (Shqiptarja). No consolidated official SPAK document was reviewed.
Individually reported cases include Fier (father of a PSD candidate, sent to trial 27 June 2025), Kukes (two cousins, SPAK notice reported 13 May 2025), Vau i Deja (mayor Kristian Shkreli, sent to the Special Court 23 October 2025), Shkodra (cash, stamps and identity cards seized, 8 May 2025) and Lushnje (a complaint about a EUR 500 offer, with conflicting attribution). These are SPAK or police accusations; no final verdict appears in the sources reviewed.
The OSCE/ODIHR final report (published 23 October 2025) notes instances of intimidation and vote buying and pressure on public employees on election day, but gives no count of prosecutions. The Democratic Party and Sali Berisha accused SPAK chief Altin Dumani of closing electoral-crime files; Dumani said electoral crime was SPAK's main priority and that indictments were not complete.
Key facts
- 24 January 2025: SPAK head Altin Dumani ordered a Task Force for elections (A2 News).
- February 2025: KQZ, SPAK and the General Prosecutor's Office signed a coordination protocol on electoral crimes (A2 News).
- SPAK-reported figure for the 11 May 2025 vote: 46 criminal proceedings, 22 still under investigation (search snippet; source to be confirmed).
- 8 May 2025: SPAK-led operation in Shkodra; reported seizure of cash, oil-related stamps and identity cards (A2 News, 8 May 2025).
- ODIHR final report, published 23 October 2025, notes instances of intimidation and vote buying and pressure on public employees.
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 (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- The ODIHR final report (23 Oct 2025) states there were 'instances of intimidation and vote buying' and 'pressure on public employees' on the 2025 election, and recommends sanctions for misuse of state resources.
- SPAK publicly charged or referred the individual cases listed (accusations only; not established by a court in the sources reviewed).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationVote buying through cash, goods and promises (Fier, Kukes, Vau i Deja, Shkodra, Lushnje): SPAK or police accusation.
- AllegationPressure on public employees to mobilise votes: ODIHR reports it as a general finding; the Democratic Party makes specific claims (unverified).
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.
- AllegationSPAK (official notices, as reported by media): active electoral corruption (Art. 328 Criminal Code) in Fier, Kukes and Vau i Deja.
- AllegationSali Berisha, Democratic Party leader (political statement, 2025): the Socialist Party engaged in pressure, fraud and vote buying; also said SPAK chief Altin Dumani had closed electoral-crime files.
- AllegationDemocratic Party (complaints to KQZ, as summarised in an EPP document): vote buying through cash incentives and hiring favouring Socialist supporters. These are the party's claims.
Open questions (4)
- What is the official SPAK count of 2025 electoral proceedings, and how many reached a verdict?
- Status of the Kukes case, where the second suspect was reported at large.
- Outcome of the Fier and Vau i Deja trials at the Special Court (GJKKO).
- Whether the Lushnje complaint was transferred to SPAK and under which case number.
Responses (5)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Kristian Shkreli (Vau i Deja): denied promising benefits or offering goods for votes; defence says the Stajke grid work was a service matter (Balkanweb and Shqiptarja reporting of court hearings).
- Limonera Bozha (PSD candidate, Fier): called the accusations against her father false and said she had been intimidated into withdrawing from the race (search-result summary of Shqiptarja reporting; not verified in full text).
- PSD (Kukes): said Gazment Peposhi is not a party member but chairman of the Socialist Party branch in the Ujmisht administrative unit (Shqiptarja, 13 May 2025).
- Altin Dumani (SPAK): said no one should be afraid as long as they respect the law, that electoral crime is SPAK's main priority, and that indictments were not complete (A2 News reporting).
- Sali Berisha: accused Dumani of 'closing all electoral-crime files' and called him the 'second author' of the May 11 'electoral farce' (A2 News reporting).
Figures
Money trail →Alleged offer for a family's votes, Lushnje (as reported)
€500
50,000 lek
paymentSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Amount alleged in a complaint, as reported (50,000 new lek / 500 euro). Not verified. Attribution conflicts: Marin Leka named in one report; a PD representative in another.
Date: May 2025 · Payer: alleged (conflicting attribution) · Payee: citizen (complainant)
- Lushnje i premtoi se do ti jepte para ne kembim te votes, arrestohet 38vjecari (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · May 2025 · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
SPAK orders an election task force
SPAK head Altin Dumani ordered a Task Force for elections, with teams in all 12 regions and a liaison for the KQZ.
Government
KQZ, SPAK and General Prosecutor sign electoral-crime coordination protocol
Protocol for fast information exchange on electoral crimes ahead of the 2025 vote. The date is approximate (the month is reported as February 2025).
SPAK
Arrest of Pandeli Bozha in Fier; Shkodra electoral operation
SPAK arrested Pandeli Bozha, father of a PSD candidate, on a vote-buying warrant three days before the vote. The same week a SPAK-led operation in Shkodra reported cash, stamps and identity cards seized.
Other
Parliamentary election held in Albania
The Socialist Party won; the PD alleged vote buying, pressure and fraud, and appealed certifications to KAS and asked KQZ to audit diaspora ballots.
International
OSCE/ODIHR final report on 11 May 2025 Albanian elections
Reports intimidation, misuse of public resources, pressure on public employees and vote buying on election day; recommends prohibiting public-resource use for campaigning and sanctioning misuse. Per search summary; full report not opened.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 13 sources.
Source label: VerifiedVerified · 2 sources
- Publisher
- OSCE/ODIHR
- Date
- 23 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- 11 May 2025
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 10 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- May 2025
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- May 2025
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- 24 Jan 2025
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- 8 May 2025
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- 2025
- CEC and SPAK join forces against electoral crimes, coordination protocol signed (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher
- A2 News
- Date
- Feb 2025
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 8 May 2025
- Publisher
- OSCE/ODIHR
- Date
- 23 Oct 2025
- Publisher
- KQZ / SPAK / Prosecutor General
- Date
- Feb 2025
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- May 2025