Saimir Tahiri in the eyes of world media

So writes Reuters news agency after yesterday's decision.

Prosecutors wanted Tahiri, once one of Prime Minister Edi Rama's closest associates, to be imprisoned for 12 years on charges of corruption, drug trafficking and to be part of a criminal group -- a case that has shaken the leftist administration.

The decision comes a month before European Union member states, interested in seeing Tirana step up its fight against corruption, meet to decide whether they will support Albania's bid to start accession talks recommended by the EU Commission, Reuters writes.

The court said that I am not a criminal or a drug dealer and I am not part of a criminal group, but found me guilty of abuse of duty because I used the same car with several cousins”, Tahiri told reporters after the verdict, which was given six hours later than planned.

The ruling Socialists rejected calls to lift Tahiri's immunity from prosecution last year, but he gave up his immunity in May after EU states asked Tirana to seriously fight corruption if it wanted to join.

Currently, Albania is verifying its judges and prosecutors for corruption to end a history of impunity for senior officials, as it aims to meet EU entry requirements, Reuters's writing concludes.