U.S. State Department raises alarm over Albania: Impunity remains a serious problem! Officials evade prosecution! Corruption and crime concerns

The latest security report on Albania from the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a body of the U.S. Department of State, highlights several issues related to the fight against corruption.

According to the report, our country continues to face deep-seated problems related to corruption, organized crime, and impunity for powerful individuals.

According to the report, the establishment of the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has led to an increase in investigations and prosecutions of high-level officials, politicians, and individuals with economic influence.

However, the document emphasizes that it remains a concern that some officials, politicians, judges, and individuals with strong business interests continue to be able to evade legal responsibility.

“Impunity remains a serious problem. With the creation of SPAK in 2019, the arrest and prosecution of officials committing abuses has increased; however, many officials, politicians, judges, and individuals with strong business interests are still able to evade prosecution. Corruption continues to be a serious problem in detention centers, particularly regarding access to work and special release programs,” the report states.

According to the assessment, corruption affects important areas of state functioning, including the judicial system, public administration, government procurement, and public contract management.

Foreign investors, according to the report, consider the lack of transparency, limited competition, and weak contract enforcement as among the main obstacles to the business climate.

The report also highlights that organized crime remains one of the main threats to security in Albania. Albanian criminal groups are mentioned for activity in drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption, human trafficking, and other forms of international crime.

According to the document, one of the main challenges for Albanian authorities is weakening the influence of these networks and preventing the intertwining of criminal interests with business and public institutions.

The report acknowledges the work of SPAK and other law enforcement structures, but stresses that institutional corruption, lack of coordination between institutions, and limited resources continue to hinder a full crackdown on criminal networks.