Balluku file: 31 named defendants and nine tenders (JOQ list)
Status: SPAK investigation; defendants named in the file; no court verdict.
Summary
JOQ Albania published on 30 October 2026 a list of 31 people and companies it describes as defendants in the SPAK 'Balluku' file. JOQ states the probe covers nine tender procedures and suspicions of corruption, unequal treatment in tenders, document forgery, abuse of office and money laundering. JOQ attributes these charges to SPAK's statement and media reports; no individual charge sheet was opened by this review.
Independent reports (Albanian Daily News) describe nine tenders worth about EUR 1.2 billion, including the Llogara tunnel and seven sections of the Tirana Outer Ring Road, and 15 alleged criminal episodes. JOQ's version names a different tender ('Lot 3 Porto Romano-Durrës', about EUR 14 million); the independent summary instead names Lot 4 of the Outer Ring Road, and treats the Porto Romano landfill/EKO-Park tender as a separate SPAK line of inquiry. This is a conflict of detail.
Key facts
- JOQ (30 Oct 2026): 31 defendants, 29 individuals and 2 companies, including former Deputy PM Belinda Balluku, former ARRSH head Ervis Berberi, former ARRSH/KESH officials Gentian Gjyli and Erald Elezi, and businesspeople named in existing research files.
- JOQ says Balluku is charged with unequal treatment in 9 tenders, passive corruption, undeclared or falsely declared assets and money laundering.
- JOQ cites SPAK estimates for two villas (Palasë and Dhërmi) and a Lot 3 Porto Romano-Durrës tender of about EUR 14 million.
- Albanian Daily News (independent): nine tenders, about EUR 1.2 billion, 15 alleged episodes, Llogara tunnel plus seven Outer Ring Road sections.
- Parliament vote on lifting Balluku's immunity (12 March 2026): 82 against, 47 in favour (JOQ; see separate case).
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.
- SPAK has publicly named Balluku and other people as suspects or defendants in procurement-related charges (official accusation).
- The names of several co-defendants appear in multiple outlets (see sources).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the nine tenders were rigged or unequal (SPAK allegation).
- AllegationThat Balluku's assets were concealed in other people's names (SPAK allegation as reported).
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.
- AllegationSPAK (as reported by JOQ, 30 Oct 2026): nine tender procedures involving unequal treatment, document forgery, abuse of office and money laundering.
- AllegationJOQ Albania: the list of 31 defendants is taken from the SPAK file and media reports; JOQ itself makes no finding.
Open questions (3)
- Whether JOQ's '31 defendants' count matches the official SPAK list; no SPAK statement with the full list was opened.
- Which tender is the 'Lot 3 Porto Romano-Durrës' item: JOQ reports it, but the independent summary names Lot 4 of the Outer Ring Road.
- The individual roles of several listed people (JOQ gives no role for Verdho, Sulollari, Dervishi, Kashnica and others).
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- JOQ reports no response from any named defendant.
- Balluku's public denial: see existing claim-balluku-2026-09-11-no-300-apartments and doc-balkanweb-balluku-denial-2026-09-11 (leaders/.
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
JOQ publishes list of 31 defendants in the Balluku file
JOQ lists 31 defendants (29 individuals and 2 companies) and says the probe covers nine tenders. Independent summaries describe nine tenders worth about EUR 1.2 billion but name different tender lots.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 4 sources.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 4 sources
- Publisher
- JOQ Albania
- Date
- 30 Oct 2026
- Former Albanian Deputy PM to Face Trial Over Alleged €1.2 Billion Tender Scheme (opens in a new tab)
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- Oct 2026
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 2026
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 2026