From Mar 2024
Zvernec / Sazan resort: corporate chain, land and SPAK probe
A luxury resort project on Sazan Island and at Zvernec (Vlore), linked in reporting to Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and to the Qatari Al-Khayyat…
Topic
This archive gathers prosecution statements, court decisions and published reporting on corruption in Albania, and gives every record a source label. Four of the largest files in 2026: SPAK formally charged former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over public tenders, and Parliament refused her arrest on 12 March 2026 by 82 votes to 47. Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj is on trial at the Special Court on 13 charges, with no verdict yet.
In the Elbasan incinerator case, Balkanweb reports that the High Court upheld the convictions of former environment minister Lefter Koka and others on 19 May 2026. At Zvërnec and Sazan, where a resort project is linked in reporting to Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners, SPAK opened an investigation on 1 June 2026. Everyone named is presumed innocent until a final court decision.
Drawn from these case files (source label of each):
Dated events from the case files on this page, oldest first. Each event carries its own source label. The latest 30 of 106 dated events are shown.
Sorted by reported money, then by linked people and their legal status. The money figure is the largest single reported figure, not a total.
From Mar 2024
A luxury resort project on Sazan Island and at Zvernec (Vlore), linked in reporting to Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and to the Qatari Al-Khayyat…
From 2013
Lazarat, a village in southern Albania (Vlora region), became the centre of a cannabis economy in the 2010s. Italian financial police (Guardia di…
From 21 Nov 2024
Reporting describes a chain of land transactions in Zvernec between Artur Shehu (Vlora businessman living in the US, not charged per BIRN), local…
From 2017
The IMF's most specific figures on Albania's PPP program come from 2017-2018. By mid-2017 there were more than 200 PPP and concession contracts worth…
From Jan 2023
Albania signed a EUR 2 billion public-private partnership with Mohamed Alabbar's Emaar/Eagle Hills to redevelop the Durres waterfront and move the…
From 2016
Several NGOs and researchers argue that criminal money has moved through Albanian construction and property. The best-known number is a GI-TOC…
From 30 Dec 2024
Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners is linked to the Zvernec and Sazan luxury resort plan, which Albania granted strategic investor status in 2024…
From Feb 2024
The Strategic Investment Committee granted strategic investor status on 30 December 2024 to Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC for a 45-hectare project…
From 20 Oct 2026
On 20 October 2026, Reuters reported that Albania's Special Prosecution Office formalised corruption charges against former Deputy Prime Minister…
From 10 Feb 2025
SPAK arrested Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on 10 February 2025 (Citizens.al; some outlets say 11 February) on suspicion of corruption and money…
From Oct 2012
The 2012 tender to sell the state oil company Albpetrol was won by Vetro Energy, a consortium with an offer reported at EUR 850 million. Rezart Taci…
From 6 Nov 2023
The protocol signed by Meloni and Rama on 6 November 2023 put two Italian-built and Italian-run facilities on Albanian soil: the Shengjin screening…
From 29 Apr 2026
The figure of 300 apartments linked to Belinda Balluku, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, comes from public…
From Apr 2010
SPAK alleges that Ilir Meta used his influence to secure a lucrative contract between CEZ Shperndarje, the energy distributor, and DIA (Debt…
From Jun 2025
Albanian state defence company KAYO has reportedly concluded arrangements with Israeli defence company Elbit Systems (artillery, mortars, drones,…
From Dec 2020
A UAE developer, Eagle Hills, holds the contract for a mixed-use marina and waterfront on the Durres port area. Reporting describes a 2.5 billion…
From Jan 2016
The Milot-Morinë section of the Rruga e Kombit (A1/SH10, linking Tirana-Durrës area to Kosovo) was put out to tender in February 2016 by the Ministry…
From 2021
The Vlora Marina is a 35-year concession, awarded after a 2021 tender to a consortium that includes Balfin Group (Samir Mane). Reports say Balfin…
From Dec 2025
A government package of tax amnesty and a Fiscal Peace Agreement was approved in principle by Parliament around December 2025, according to Eurofast.…
From 19 Jul 2018
The Thumanë–Kashar highway was tendered in 2018 as a public-private partnership. Exit News reports that Gener 2 won on 19 July 2018 with a bid of…
Being named in a file is not a finding of wrongdoing. Legal status is shown for each person.

Edi RamaSocialist Party (PS)

Belinda BallukuSocialist Party (PS)
Arben AhmetajSocialist Party (PS)

Sali BerishaDemocratic Party (PD)