Tirana municipality internet tender and 200,000 euro concert payment to a company owned by the mayor's brother (press allegation)
Status: Press allegation (2018); no official finding found in sources reviewed.
Summary
Exit.al (7 May 2018) reported that Albtelekom won a Tirana municipality internet-service tender on 20 October 2017, and that Albtelekom paid 200,000 euro for a Rita Ora concert in Tirana with the full amount transferred to Gogël sh.p.k., which Exit.al says is owned by Mayor Erion Veliaj's brother. Exit.al presents this as part of a pattern of municipal entertainment spending channelled through suspect tenders. No court or official finding was found. The fetched article contains no response from Veliaj; a search summary reports a June 2018 council denial that the municipality paid for the concerts, which was not verified in the fetched text.
Key facts
- Albtelekom won the Tirana municipality internet-service tender on 20 October 2017 (21 million lek; 167 days; Telekom Albania disqualified on technical criteria), per Exit.al.
- Albtelekom would pay 200,000 euro for a Rita Ora concert in Tirana on 3 June 2018, with the full sum going to Gogël sh.p.k. (Exit.al, citing Hashtag).
- Exit.al states Gogël is owned by Mayor Erion Veliaj's brother; the brother is not named.
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.
- That Exit.al published the article and the tender facts it reports (as stated by Exit.al).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the Albtelekom tender and the 2018 payment are linked to the mayor's family.
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.
- AllegationExit.al alleges that the 200,000 euro payment ended up with a company owned by Mayor Erion Veliaj's brother (press allegation, citing Hashtag).
Open questions (3)
- QKB shareholding of Gogël sh.p.k.
- Whether the 2017 tender or the 2018 payment was reviewed by KLSH, the Public Procurement Agency or SPAK.
- Veliaj's own response to the 2018 allegation as reported at the council meeting.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Fetched Exit.al article: no response from Erion Veliaj. Search summary: Veliaj denied that the municipality paid for the concerts (council meeting, June 2018); not verified.
Figures
Money trail →Tirana municipality internet-service tender won by Albtelekom (21 million lek per Exit.al)
€157,000
21,000,000 lek
tenderSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Figures as stated by Exit.al. Its daily rate (156,000 lek over 167 days) does not reconcile with the total, and its euro conversion is also inconsistent; the euro figure is Exit's own conversion.
Date: 20 Oct 2017 · Payer: Municipality of Tirana · Payee: Albtelekom sh.a.
- Exit.al: Veliaj Pays Albtelekom, Albtelekom Pays His Brother (fetched) (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 7 May 2018 · journalism · EN
Albtelekom payment for Rita Ora concert, full sum transferred to Gogël sh.p.k. (per Exit.al)
€200,000
paymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: As stated by Exit.al citing Hashtag; not verified against bank or invoice records.
Date: 7 May 2018 · Payer: Albtelekom sh.a. · Payee: Gogël sh.p.k.
- Exit.al: Veliaj Pays Albtelekom, Albtelekom Pays His Brother (fetched) (opens in a new tab)Exit.al · 7 May 2018 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
Albtelekom wins Tirana municipality internet-service tender
Per Exit.al: 21 million lek, 167 days; one bidder did not submit a bid, Telekom Albania was disqualified on technical criteria, and Albtelekom was declared the winner.
Media
Exit.al publishes report on 200,000 euro Albtelekom payment to Gogël (owned, per Exit, by Veliaj's brother)
Exit.al, citing Hashtag (2 May 2018), reports the Rita Ora concert payment. The article contains no response from Veliaj.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 1 source.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 7 May 2018