Banker shot dead in downtown Tirana

TIRANA, June 26 – A major Albanian businessman who headed one of the country’s largest banks and held shares in two television stations, Artan Santo, was shot dead Thursday morning in front of his office in downtown Tirana.
Witnesses at the scene said two men on a motorbike shot Santo six times in front of the entrance to his office in the Bllok neighbourhood. One bullet hit his head.
Police on Thursday said it was too early to determine a motive. They are looking for the two shooters.
Santo, 58, had co-founded and managed Banka Credins, Albania’s first bank started entirely with local capital. He owned 5.8 percent of the shares in the bank, according to the National Registration Center database, but he also served as CEO and general director. He also owned majority shares in Scan TV, a business news television station, and minority shares in the media group that includes News24, Gazeta Shqiptare and BalkanWeb.
Santo was a well-respected figure in the business community, having had a lengthy career in the banking sector. He was a prominent supporter of the arts and helped fund many book authors.
All of Albania’s political leaders condemned the killing, urging authorities to quickly find those responsible.