US, EU assess SPAK work at 5th anniversary of its foundation

US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans Alexander Kasanoff said that during his first visit to Albania, he called for SPAK prosecutors to enable application for continuing the mandate.

The independence of SPAK remains crucial. To ensure that the SPAK continues in the future the fight against organised crime and corruption, we believe that SPAK prosecutors should be allowed to apply again after the end of their current mandate”, Kasanoff said.

SPAK prosecutors are eligible for only a nine-year term, according to Albania's Constitution.

Kasanoff said that failure to enable them to continue the mandate “risks halting the most successful fight against organised crime and corruption in Albanian history”.

A few months earlier, the same request had been made by SPAK leader Altin Duman, urging the Parliament to make constitutional changes to allow prosecutors to run for the continuation of the mandate.

Meanwhile, the European Union's Ambassador to Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, guaranteed continued support for the SPAK and recalled that Albania's European journey is based on the results of the fight against corruption and organised crime.

He demanded that SPAK not be left alone in this war.

“SPAK is not and should be the only institution in the fight against corruption and organised crime. It is the responsibility of all institutions, it should be co-ordinated”, Gonzato said.

At the ceremony for the 5th anniversary of the institution leading, Doman said that during this time the Special Prosecutor has proved that all are equal before the law.

During this time before the trial, several former officials, former ministers and deputies have emerged, and they are already serving sentence.

The head of the SPAK and the institution it heads have recently faced political attacks. Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former President Ilir Meta, both under investigation for corruption, have claimed that Daman serves the government and that, according to them, he is hitting the opposition.

In the results of the SPAK's work, Duman, who took office two years ago, ranked the seizure and seizure of assets worth up to 182m euros.

61 senior corruption officials have also been prosecuted, out of whom 70% have been sent to trial. As for organised crime, 955 people have been prosecuted, while in the area of terrorism, 29 people have been prosecuted and all sent for trial.

Duman was honoured by the US State Department as champion in the fight against corruption in Albania weeks ago.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as he handed over the prize to Duman, he appreciated it SPAK as the most reliable institution in Albania. REL