Ilir Beqaj

This record appears in more than one research record. The main text above comes from one; the other versions are kept here unedited.

Biography

• Ilir Beqaj is a former Minister of Health. SPAK has charged him in two files: a sterilisation concession tender, in which he was arrested in August 2023 along with businessman Ilir Rrapaj, and a file on alleged abuse of at least eight tender procedures at SASPAC, the agency coordinating EU funds, which SPAK says he carried out with Ermal Kurtulaj. He was held in pretrial detention from July 2024 and was moved to house arrest on 31 July 2026 when the maximum pretrial-detention period expired. He denies the accusations.From the research record
• Former Minister of Health. SPAK alleges he signed the sterilization concession, a 10-year health PPP, in violation of the law: false feasibility-study data, and no avoidance of a conflict of interest with businessman Ilir Rrapaj. He is being tried at the Special Court (GJKKO) separately from eight co-defendants; the presiding judge was reported as Bib Ndreca.From the research record
• Former Health Minister. Charged by SPAK in the SASPAC / EU-funds file (reported closed and charged in Feb 2025). Charges reported: corruption, violation of equality in tenders, falsification of documents, concealment and failure to declare assets. Held in pre-trial detention, then moved to house arrest in late July 2026 after the maximum detention period was reported to have expired.From the research record
• Full record inand(id ilir-beqaj); this entry covers the cabinet angle only.From the research record
• Ilir Beqaj is a former Minister of Health and former head of SASPAC. SPAK charged him in the SASPAC file over EU-fund abuse; a separate sterilisation-concession file was also sent for trial at the GJKKO. He has been in pre-trial detention since 4 July 2024. On 31 July 2026 the GJKKO ended the detention because the legal limit had expired and placed him under house arrest. No verdict has been reached.From the research record

Legal status detail

• Charged by SPAK in two files: the sterilisation concession (arrested August 2023 per search summaries) and the SASPAC tender file (charges reported as four to five counts; trial at GJKKO pending as of the latest sources). In custody since July 2024. GJKKO rejected several requests for release or to replace detention, and released him to house arrest on 31 July 2026 because the legal maximum for pretrial detention had passed (Albanian Daily News, Gazeta Tema). No verdict found.From the research record
• Charged with theft by abuse of office and participation in a structured criminal group (per reporting). A July 2026 op-ed reports release from pre-trial detention after about 25 months because the legal deadline expired. No verdict found.From the research record
• Charged (SPAK, Feb 2025 per A2 News). Constitutional Court rejected his request on 28 Jan 2026 (reported). Special Court upheld prison-arrest in May 2026. Late July 2026: GJKKO replaced detention with house arrest. Trial pending; trial date reported as 15 September (one commentary, unverified).From the research record
• Arrested 4 Jul 2024 (detention order 3 Jul 2024). SASPAC/EU-funds case (existing case-sasapc-beqaj): on 31 Jul 2026 the GJKKO (judge Elsa Ulliri, ruling no. 550 dated 31.07.2026) replaced prison detention with house arrest under Art. 237 CPC because the pretrial detention period had expired (Balkanweb). Charged with abuse of EU funds; co-defendant Ermal Kurtulaj's measure was changed a day earlier. Sterilisation concession case (existing case-sterilization-concession): referral to trial with 7 others is reported in a Shqiptarja headline (undated, not opened). No verdict found.From the research record
• SASPAC file (SPAK case reference 13/2020 per search summary): trial at the GJKKO with eight other defendants and two companies (a2news/Shqiptarja). Charges as reported: corruption, violating equality in tenders, fraud, forgery of documents and hiding assets (Shqiptarja summary). Balkanweb reports arrest on 4 Jul 2024 under detention order no. 65 of 3 Jul 2024. GJKKO decision no. 550 of 31 Jul 2026 (judge Elsa Ulliri) replaced detention with house arrest under Art. 237 CPC; appealable to the Special Court of Appeal within 5 days. The existingrecord gives an August 2023 arrest date; the Balkanweb source contradicts it. The sterilisation file is a second case (judge appointed; trial ongoing per a2news headline).From the research record

Response

• After his release from prison, Beqaj said he had been held unjustly in pretrial detention (Telegrafi headline). He has denied the sterilisation-concession accusations (A2 CNN summary). He also said he would stay in custody as 'proof of the success of the justice reform' (Shqiptarja headline), a comment on the system rather than a defence of the charges.From the research record
• Reporting cites his lawyer's challenges and hearing postponements; his own public defence on the contract was not located in the sources reviewed.From the research record
• Says he remained in detention unjustly and calls himself a political victim (Telegrafi, Albanian Daily News; the latter is commentary). Denies the charges (per A2 summaries). Says he wants Berisha and Vokshi as witnesses (Telegrafi).From the research record
• After release he said he had spent 25 months 'unjustly' in prison (Balkanweb, Jul 2026).From the research record
• Lawyer on the 31 Jul 2026 ruling (Balkanweb, fetched): 'The request was for the extinguishing of the pretrial detention deadlines' (translated) (original: 'Kërkesa ishte për shuarjen e afateve të paraburgimit'). Beqaj said publicly that his detention was unjustified and that he is innocent (headlines, Telegrafi/Balkanweb; full text not fetched). He has asked for an ordinary trial. Berisha commented publicly on his release (headline).From the research record