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From currency to passports: Preparations for the Bektashi microstate in Albania intensify

2026-08-18 13:56:26Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA NGA FRANCK RENAUD

From currency to passports: Preparations for the Bektashi microstate in Albania

Less than two years after the Albanian prime minister announced the creation of a sovereign Bektashi enclave, the leaders of this Sufi community are laying the groundwork for recognition of its official status and appointing representatives abroad.

The creation of the Sovereign State of the Bektashi Order, destined to be the smallest state in the world and often described as a "Muslim Vatican", is expected to be formalized by Albanian authorities in the coming months.

Announced by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the United Nations in September 2024, the creation of the enclave in Tirana — which, at 11 hectares, is only a quarter the size of the Vatican — was delayed by a social movement that began in late May. Mass protests erupted against a project to build a luxury hotel complex on the island of Sazan, linked to the Affinity Partners fund of US President Donald Trump's daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.

Known as the Flamingo Revolution, after the birds that nest on the island, the protest took on a political character, targeting Rama, who has led the government for 13 years. Rama hopes the movement will gain momentum so he can regain control. The creation of a state inspired by the Bektashi Order — a Sufi sect that promotes a moderate Islam open to interfaith dialogue — is part of this political agenda.

Currency and passport

Bektashi officials and their spiritual leader, Edmond Brahimaj, better known as Baba Mondi and who served as an officer in the Albanian army until the fall of the communist regime, are preparing the foundations of the future state.

Intelligence Online has learned that leaders are considering the possibility of minting coins. The currency, which would be known as the “bek,” would likely be indexed to the price of gold. Bektashi officials would also issue passports. Baba Mondi regularly hosts foreign delegations at his headquarters in the Albanian capital, including representatives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry late last year.

The World Bektashi Patriarchate, headquartered in Tirana, is also working on the diplomatic front. Special envoys have been appointed under the leadership of Ambassador Special Kreshnik Grezda.

The US representative, Christopher Hyland, is the founder of a luxury textile company based in New York. Very active in the Balkans, the entrepreneur was also an electoral advisor during Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign in 1992, where he served as deputy national political director for ethnic communities. The US embassy in Tirana, particularly active in Albanian affairs (IO, 12.09.2025), is closely following the creation of the Bektashi state.

Entrepreneur for France and Belgium

The representative for France and Belgium is Hazis Vardar, a Belgian-Albanian entrepreneur in the cultural sector. Vardar runs several theaters and museums in Europe, including institutions in Paris, as well as in other countries around the world. In late 2024, he co-founded the open-source intelligence company DataSentinel Balkans in Albania.

Vardar serves as the company's administrator, while Julien-Gérard Roche, a French businessman active in Albania since the 1980s and president of the France-Albania Chamber of Commerce and Industry, serves as an advisor.

The company also includes former gendarme Jean-Christophe Cloetens, an expert on Albania and the Balkans, who operated in the region during his time serving in the BLAT anti-terrorist office of the French gendarmerie.

DataSentinel Balkans has formed partnerships with two French companies to support its operations: Cyber ​​ICS, specializing in cybersecurity and so-called "dusting attacks", and Terra OSINT, which is developing a platform for analyzing influence operations and reputational risks.

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