Belinda Balluku: SPAK formal charge over the Llogara tunnel tender
Status: Formally charged by SPAK; investigation reported as concluded; trial referral expected. Not decided by any court.
Summary
JOQ Albania reports that SPAK formally communicated a charge to former Deputy PM and former Infrastructure and Energy Minister Belinda Balluku on 31 October 2025, concerning the procurement procedure for the Llogara tunnel. The charge is described as violating equality among participants in public tenders or auctions, across five criminal charges linked to 15 suspected episodes. JOQ says the investigation has concluded and the file is expected to move to the Special Court (GJKKO). The article states that closing the investigation does not mean guilt or innocence.
Independent reporting from Albanian Daily News, OCCRP and other outlets describes the same SPAK indictment: the tunnel tender is reported as a roughly EUR 190 million project, and SPAK alleges Balluku and procurement officials predetermined the winner. Balluku is reported to deny wrongdoing. Parliament later refused SPAK's request to lift her immunity for arrest (see case-joq-parliament-blocks-balluku-arrest-2026).
Key facts
- SPAK charge: violation of equality among participants in public tenders or auctions (JOQ, 31 Oct 2026).
- JOQ says the charge was formally communicated to Balluku on 31 October 2025 and that she had earlier taken the status of defendant at the Special Prosecution Office.
- Albanian Daily News reports the SPAK indictment was announced on 31 October 2025 and concerns the EUR 190 million Llogara tunnel project (search summary; verify on page).
- OCCRP headline: Albania suspends Deputy PM Balluku in major tender probe.
- Balluku was dismissed as deputy PM and minister in February 2026 (see existing ev-2026-02-26-balluku-dismissed in ps-deep/; Reuters via internazionale.it, 26 Feb 2026).
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 announced charges against Balluku in the Llogara tunnel procurement (official accusation, not a court finding).
- The Albanian Parliament voted on 12 March 2026 against SPAK's request to lift her immunity for arrest (see separate case).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat Balluku favoured a bidder and manipulated the Llogara tunnel tender (SPAK allegation).
- AllegationThat the outcome was predetermined and the procedure benefited a consortium (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.
- AllegationJOQ Albania (31 Oct 2026): SPAK formally charged Balluku over the Llogara tunnel procurement, and the file is 'ready' for the Special Court.
- AllegationSPAK (as reported by Telegrafi and Albanian Daily News): Balluku and subordinate officials predetermined the winners of the Llogara tunnel and Tirana Outer Ring Road tenders.
Open questions (3)
- Whether the case has been formally sent to the Special Court (GJKKO) and on what date.
- Exact number of charges and tenders: JOQ says five charges across 15 episodes; other reports cite nine tenders and about EUR 1.2 billion.
- Whether the Llogara bid values and the lowest-bid allegation (see existing leaders/ match the court file.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Balluku has denied wrongdoing (reported by Reuters-based coverage; existing research file doc-reuters-the-star-2026-10-20 covers the 20 Oct 2026 formal charges). The quote 'mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies' appears in a search summary of Reuters-based coverage; the page was not opened directly.
- Balluku refused to comment to journalists when called to SPAK again (Albanian Daily News, 'Balluku Called at SPAK, Refuses Comments').
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
SPAK formally communicates procurement charge to Belinda Balluku (Llogara tunnel)
JOQ Albania (31 Oct 2026) states that one year earlier, on 31 Oct 2025, SPAK formally communicated to Balluku the charge of violating equality among participants in public tenders. Albanian Daily News reports the SPAK indictment was announced on the same date.
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
- JOQ Albania
- Date
- 31 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
- OCCRP
- Date
- Nov 2025
- Publisher
- Albanian Daily News
- Date
- 2026
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- 2026
- Publisher
- Reuters (via Internazionale)
- Date
- 26 Feb 2026
- Publisher
- The Star / Reuters
- Date
- 20 Oct 2026