How he paid Lulzim Basha millions in the company "offshop" for meetings with Donald Trump

On the eve of the election campaign for the 25 June parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party led by Lulzim Basha linked two contracts to its Washington lobbyist, Stonington Strategies, in order to secure high-level meetings with President Donald Trump's administration.

The data provided by BIRN shows that the payments to the lobbie company were made through two contracts linked at the end of March by the Democratic Party and a shell company registered in Scotland by the name of “Biate Trade LP” -- which total a total value of 675 000 USS -- and including the firm's monthly fees and payments for its expenses.

Direct DP contract with “Stonington Strategies” has been reported to the US Department of Justice since March, while the contract with “Binites Trade LPAK has been kept hidden for several months and was reported in mid-November.

Through these large payments, “Stonington Strategies” has requested and planned meetings for the Democrat leadership with US President Donald Trump's staff officials, members of Congress, and has made contacts in the American media including an interview of DP leader Lulzim Basha with the “Breitbart News”.

On November 14, 2017, “Stonington Strategies” reported to the Department of Justice that it has received two payments from the Democratic Party worth a total of 525 thousand USD and a third payment from “Biniatta Trade LP” at the value of 150 thousand USD.

None of these payments were declared in the DP's financial report delivered to the Central Election Commission for the 25 June elections, which raises serious doubts about the origin of the money.

Also, it remains unclear what is the relationship between the Democratic Party and the company Baniatta Trade LP, which is owned by a chain of companies registered in Belize -- a Central American state known as a fiscal paradise.

In addition to the two contracts related to the Stotonington Strategies, during the same period the DP has also entered a contract with the lobbie company “Barnes and Thornburg LLP” in early April worth 150 thousand USD.

In total, Democratic Party's expenses for lobbyists in Washington for March-June amount to 825 000 U n The DS- higher than the total income the Democratic Party declared in the CEC.

Asked by BIRN for the above contracts, the Democratic Party denied as payments worth 525 thousand USD for “Stonington Strategies” and any financial relations with the shell company “Biatta Trade LP”. The DP told BIRN it had paid 125 thousand USS in total for its lobby contracts.

Despite Albania's being a small country with poor economics, Albanian political parties are not spared in their large payments to Washington's lobbyists. Like the Democratic Party, the Socialist Party or Socialist Movement for Integration has had active lobbie contracts during 2017, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The undeclared DP-pronounced firm at the Central Election Commission is part of the lobby company Mafzin Capitol Partners, registered in Maryland of the United States.

Muzin Capitol Partners LLC was founded by Nicolas Muzin, a strategic adviser and deputy chief of staff for Republican Senator Ted Cruz during his presidential campaign in 2016. Trained as a doctor and jurist, Nick Muzin has also worked as Senator Tim Scott's chief staff, when the latter was in Congressman's position.

On March 22nd, during one of his visits to Washington, Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha has signed a contract with the lobby company “Stoneington Strategies”, worth 25 thousand USD a month for a three-month period.

According to data declared by “Muzin Capital Partners LLC” at the US Department of Justice, the purpose of this contract was “producing and implementing” of the Democratic Party's campaign for parliamentary elections; promoting Democratic Party's goals in the media and close to businesses and political figures in the US. Also “Muzin Capitol Partners” reports it will help the Democratic Party establish a conservative movement in Albania.

Despite the “Muzin Capital Partners LLC” has reported to the Justice Department 525 thousand USD payments from the Democratic Party, the latter told BIRN that he had paid this lobbyist with only 25 thousand USD.

“For Muzin Capitol Partners was paid once 25 thousand U. DS from the Democratic Party. For “Barnes and Thornburg The LLP was paid twice out of the 50 thousand USD by the United Opposition,”, the DP's spokeswoman for BIRN responded.

Two days before signing the contract with Basha on March 20th, <x0in Capitol Partners) has signed a contract with the guacca company Biaatta Trade LPA, which commits to paying 450 thousand USD for a three-month period, and an additional payment of 500 thousand USD for securing some meetings or participation in events in Washington, D.C.

The contract does not mention the Democratic Party and is aimed at promoting the role of Albanian-American businesses in the US, researching Albania's economic success in Europe, and promoting financial and trade relations between Albania and the US. It also mentions the promotion of the month of Albanian history in several US states, as well as the emphasis on the Albanian diaspora's contribution.

However, data reported on November 14th by the KOHMin Capitol Partners” at the Department of Justice show that “Binita LP” has compensated it for 150 thousand US dollars worth of activities undertaken on behalf of Albania's Democratic Party to promote conservative leadership in Albania and business relations between the US and Albania.

Asked about relations with the company “Binita Trade LP”, the Democratic Party denied any connection to it.

The Democratic Party has not had and has no financial relations with any other entity concerning these two commitments,”, she replied.

The payments of the Democratic Party and that of the company "Bianita" do not coincide with the respective contracts, which raise doubts that they may have had the same goal of securing meetings for democratic leaders in Washington.

To implement the two contracts, Maziin Capitol Partners '% also claims to have made a series of payments worth 103,109 US against four other consultancy companies such as “Baron Public Affairs”, AFH Associates, WBC and Burke Farah LLP.

The contract between St.tonington Strategies and Baniatta Trade LP” exposes the fact that the latter is registered in Edinburgh, Scotland. The data provided by BIRN in the British business registry “Company House,” shows that it has a capital of 100 British pounds and is owned by two companies, Asvero Corporation and Laminez Corleone Inc -- both registered in Belize.

In the same address to “Binita Trade LP” in Edinburgh (Suite 2 5, St Vincent Street) are registered at least 1,200 other companies.

In her report to the U.S. Department of Justice, Muhin Capitol Partners provides no details for the services it has performed on behalf of the company “Binite Trade LP.” Otherwise, it is the report for the Democratic Party, where it says it has made contact with members of the NGO and Congress, as well as the media, aimed at promoting the Democratic Party and the conservative “movement in Albania”.

On behalf of the Democratic Party, “Mazi Capitol Partners” claims it has conducted meetings with three members of the congress, Ed Royce, Pete Sessions and Michael Mcaul, during Basha's visit to Washington in March. Basha's meetings with the three congressmen are confirmed and by an article published at the “Breitbart News portal,” which, according to data, was also enabled by the lobby company.

According to the reported data, Muzin Capital Partners has attempted to secure Basha and several other meetings with congressmen and members of the US executive, including a meeting with Steve Bannon- former President Donald Trump's strategic adviser and executive director of the United News. )

The Democratic Party's payments to the Balkan Capitol Partners are not included in its electoral spending report on the June 25th elections, delivered to the CEC.

In this report, the Democratic Party has declared only payments for two lobbie contracts with the company “Barnes and Thornburg LLP” at the value of 1285 000 dollars.

The DP said that the two leading lobby companies committed themselves to the awareness of American officials for the cause of free elections and the fight against crime and drugs, when the Democratic Party and its allies were in the 90-day protest before the prime minister.

The Democratic Party insisted it had declared all three payments to the CEC.

The three payments were carried out by the Democratic Party's bank account and declared at the Central Election Commission,”, the DP responded.

If taken in total, DP consultancy fees for Muzin Capitol Partners and the other lobby company “Barnes and Thornburg LLP” exceeds its total income declared in the CEC of 88 million dollars.

Much of this revenue, more than 58 million, Basha-led rightist party claims it spent it on the election campaign, leaving behind doubts about the origin of money they served to pay million bills for the two top lobbie companies.