“He called me, I asked my Democratic in-law to vote for the PS,” resident testifies at the GJKKO trial against Vau i Dejës mayor Kristian Shkreli

The Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime on Tuesday continued the trial against former Vau i Dejës mayor Kristian Shkreli, who is facing charges of election corruption.

At the center of today’s hearing was the testimony of Aleksandër Dodani, a local resident who was questioned about allegations of unlawful influence during the election process.

During his account before the trial panel, Dodani admitted that he had a phone conversation with former mayor Shkreli. According to the witness, Shkreli had asked him to pass along a message to his in-law so that the latter would vote for the Socialist Party.

Part of the testimony:

Dodani: I gave my testimony to the prosecution, and I stand by those words.

SPAK: Are you aware of an investment for an electricity line serving the residents?

SPAK: Do you know Kristjan Shkreli?

Witness: We are from the same area. He is the mayor of Vau i Dejës.

SPAK: On May 11, 2025, elections were held last year; did you have any contact regarding the election?

Witness: I did not have contact. He called me. I have a friend there in Araç, our area is divided between the PS and the PD. My friend is right-wing, I am left-wing. Kristjan Shkreli called me. I told my friend (my in-law) to vote for the PS, but he is a Democrat.

Lawyer: Did he ask for your vote in exchange for any benefit?

Lawyer: Did Kristjani put any pressure on you?

What is Shkreli accused of?

The Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has sent Vau i Dejës Mayor Kristian Shkreli to trial, accusing him of the criminal offense of “active corruption in elections.” According to SPAK’s official statement, phone interceptions, field surveillance and other investigative actions found that Shkreli was involved in unlawful activity during the parliamentary elections of May 11, 2025.

The investigation revealed that during the election campaign, the mayor of Vau i Dejës promised and offered material goods to voters in the village of Stajkë in exchange for voting in a certain way, in support of the Social Democratic Party of Albania. SPAK says it has closed the investigation and sent the case file to the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) for judicial review.