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FULL/ From the investigations, the status of "defendant", SUSPENSION from duty and ban on leaving the country for Belinda Balluku!

2025-11-20 11:40:23Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
FULL/ From the investigations, the status of "defendant", SUSPENSION
Belinda Balluku

The Special Court has taken two security measures for Belinda Balluku, suspension of the exercise of her duties and functions as Deputy Prime Minister and minister, and a ban on leaving the country.

The decision was given by Judge Erion Çela, requested by Prosecutor Dritan Prençi , on charges of violating equality in tenders.

Balluku was indicted about two weeks ago, but Prime Minister Rama did not dismiss him from office.

A day earlier in parliament, the former deputy prime minister said she would never speak against the new judiciary.

SPAK's accusations against Balluk

The investigation into Balluk is related to the tender procedure for the construction of the Llogara tunnel, on the Orikum-Himar road section, part of the SH8 highway (Vlora-Saranda).

The tender was initially opened on December 11, 2020, canceled and reopened on June 22, 2021, with a limit fund of 18,967,810,952.08 lek excluding VAT.

The investigation began after a search of the apartment of former Director of the Albanian Anti-Corruption Agency, Ervis Berberi, by officers of the National Bureau of Investigation in February 2024, where phones, computer equipment and documents were seized.

The examination of these devices enabled the recovery of communications between Berber and his wife, Adela Ruko, which subsequently led to the creation of a file that also linked to the mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci, and the involvement of Balluk in the investigations.

Balluku fell into the web of communications with her subordinate Ervis Berberi during the time he headed the ARRSH, while her role in predetermining the winners of public tenders remains the subject of investigation.

The Llogara tunnel tender, opened by the Ministry of Infrastructure on December 1, 2021, was won in March 2022 by the merger of the companies “Hill International NV” and “Net-Group”, after the companies “Stucky LTD” and “Gjeokonsult & CO” were disqualified for violating the tender conditions. SPAK suspects that this disqualification may have been intentional to favor the winners, due to the connections between Berber, businessman Valter Begaj and Minister Belinda Balluku.

The investigations have also included the withdrawal of documents from the ARRSH regarding the procurement practice related to the supervision of works in the Llogara tunnel, as well as the verification of the shares of the company "Net-Group", which on December 4, 2024 were donated to Valter Begaj's wife, Loreta Vallja.

SPAK official announcement (October 31, 2025)

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime is investigating within the framework of criminal proceedings no. 136 of 2025 (jointly with criminal proceedings no. 167 and 181 of 2024), for the criminal offense, "Violation of equality of participants in public tenders or auctions", provided for by Article 258 of the Criminal Code.

As part of the investigation of this criminal proceeding, today, on 31.10.2025, the defendant Belinda Balluku, with the high state function, Minister of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, was notified of the charges, accused of committing the criminal offense, "Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions", in collaboration, provided for by articles 258/2 and 25 of the Criminal Code.

Up to this stage of the preliminary investigations, the criminal facts, the subject of the charges against the defendant Belinda Balluku, relate to her actions, in her capacity as Minister of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, for one of the procurement procedures, the subject of this investigation, " Construction of the Llogara tunnel ", on the Orikum-Himar road section, part of the SH8 highway (Vlora-Saranda), conducted on 11.12.2020 and after its cancellation, the procedure was reopened on 22.6.2021, with a limit fund, 18 967 810 952.08 (eighteen billion nine hundred sixty-seven million eight hundred ten thousand nine hundred fifty-two (point) zero eight) lek excluding VAT.

On 21.10.2025, the Special Prosecution Office, as the proceeding body, notified the defendant through a letter with protocol number 37398.

Yesterday in parliament, Prime Minister Edi Rama accused the opposition that the figure for tender abuse in the Llogara tunnel is fictitious, just as, according to him, happened earlier with the incinerator affair.

Now, after the measure issued by the Special Court, it remains to be seen whether the prime minister will choose other people to serve as his deputy, as well as head of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, one of the most important portfolios in the government.


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