Five years after the alleged crimes were committed, Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) has completed its investigation and sent to trial five individuals accused of electoral fraud in Tirana. The defendants—four officials and one intermediary—are accused of manipulating citizens into voting for a preferred political party through threats to their jobs and promises to legalize informal constructions.
The charges stem from the 2019 local elections, during which the opposition boycotted the vote and the ruling Socialist Party was the only major contender. Though SPAK has not officially identified the political party involved, the context strongly points to the Socialist Party as the likely beneficiary.
According to SPAK, the accused pressured residents in the Sauk area of Tirana to vote in a specific way. In return, they allegedly promised to help with legalizing unpermitted buildings or to secure continued employment. “They requested the preparation of voter lists, compelling citizens to vote or directing them how to vote in exchange for illegal benefits,” the official SPAK statement said.
Wiretapped conversations, which form part of the case file, reportedly reveal a coordinated effort among the suspects to offer or accept bribes—either in cash or in the form of official favors—to influence voters. These actions were aimed particularly at facilitating legalization permits for unauthorized constructions.
Among those indicted are Dritan Stoka and Alqi Hajdini, both officials at ALUIZNI, the former government agency responsible for legalizing informal buildings (now part of the State Cadastre Agency). The two are charged with accepting bribes and exerting influence to approve illegal construction permits in exchange for votes.
Agim Osma, a local elder in the Lagjja e Re neighborhood in Sauk, faces charges of unlawful influence and active electoral corruption. Meanwhile, Ylli Baruti is accused of acting as the intermediary between the officials and the citizens involved.
Despite the serious nature of the accusations, the case has only now reached the trial stage—raising concerns about delays in handling electoral corruption and the broader accountability of political actors. The five-year gap between the alleged offenses and the prosecution’s action adds to public skepticism over the will and efficiency of institutions to safeguard democratic processes in Albania.