President Biden honours Albania as anti-corruption champion

This award was made public by State Secretary Antony J. Blinken during statements to the media he released. The assessment is given especially for states that have had achievements in fighting corruption. Twelve individuals have been assessed, and among them is Zvorani, currently a member of the Supreme Court.

For that reason, I am announcing a new International Award of Anti-Corruption Champions, recognising individuals who have worked hard, often in the face of disasters, to protect transparency, to fight corruption and to ensure accountability in their countries. As President Biden noted, our commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability is a mission that we should live in and illustrate outside. I congratulate the commitment of these 12 brave individuals to the same ideal”, the US secretary of state said.

During the time it has stood at the helm of KED, there have been no strong clashes with President Ilir Meta with regard to the process of selecting members of the Constitutional Court.

Full Declaration

Worldwide, corruption threatens security and stability, hinders economic growth, undermines democracy and human rights, undermines trust in public institutions, facilitates transnational crime and destroys public and private financial resources.

The Biden administration acknowledges that we will be successful in fighting these problems by working in collaboration with dedicated partners, including courageous individuals who support anticorruption efforts and countries working to fulfil their pledges to international anticorruption standards.

For that reason, I am announcing a new International Award of Anti-corruption Champions, recognising individuals who have worked hard, often in the face of disasters, to protect transparency, to fight corruption and ensure responsibility in their countries.

As President Biden pointed out, our commitment to the truth, to amplify it out. I congratulate the dedication of these 12 brave individuals to the same ideals.

The honored are: Albania's Ardian Devorani, Ecuador's Diana Salazar, Guinea's Sophia Pretric of the Federation States of Minnesota, Juan Francisco Sandoval Alfalo of Guatemala, Ibrahima Calil Gueye, India's Anjali Bhardaj, Dhuka A. Mohammed from Iraq, Bolot Temirov of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Mustafa Abdullah Sanalla of Libya, Victor Sotto of the Philippines, Francis Ben Kaifalia from Sierra Leone and Ruslan Ryabospka of Ukraine.

They inspire us and so many of their counterparts who follow these ideals throughout the world. The United States implements one of the most powerful anticorruption frames in the world. We were the first to criminalise foreign bribery and, in partnership with foreign counterparts, have recovered and turned more than $1 billion into public assets stolen only in the last two years.

We use a series of tools to promote responsibility for corrupt individuals, fight global impunity and engage in multilateral forums to fight corruption and strengthen citizens' commitment.

We will overcome corruption by implementing sound reforms in line with international anticorruption commitments; developing transparent, responsible institutions; and empowering citizens, journalists and civil society organisations to help overcome this global threat to security and democracy.