SPAK announces new charges, Belinda Balluku formally charged with corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets and tender violations

Today, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku was formally charged with corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets and violating equal treatment in tenders.

Balluku had previously been formally charged with violating equal treatment in tenders in connection with the tender procedure for the Llogara Tunnel, but this charge has now officially been extended to other tenders as well, including the lots for the Greater Ring Road.

FULL NOTICE:

The Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime today, on 20.10.2026, communicated the final charges to the defendant Belinda Balluku for the following criminal offenses:

• “Violation of the equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,” in cooperation (nine times), provided for under Articles 258/2 and 25 of the Criminal Code.

• “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions,” provided for under Article 259 of the Criminal Code.

• “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or locally elected officials,” provided for under Article 260 of the Criminal Code.

• “Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets and private interests by elected persons and public officials or any other person legally required to make a declaration,” (twice), provided for under Article 257/a, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code.

• “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity,” provided for under Article 287, letter “b” of the Criminal Code, committed under the aggravating circumstances of “acting in cooperation and more than once,” pursuant to Article 287/2 of the Criminal Code (in relation to two real estate properties).

The Special Prosecutor’s Office is continuing concrete procedural actions to communicate the charges to the other persons involved in the same criminal case. Further details will be made public at a later stage.

More to come…