TIRANA, June 18 – The German newspaper BILD published this week a second and third group of interceptions conducted by the prosecution relating to the local and preliminary elections in Northern Dibra region showing Prime Minister Edi Rama, SP Minister Damian Gjiknuri and Saimir Tahiri (at the time ministers of Infrastructure and Interior respectively) and local police and education officials engaging in vote-buying practices.
In the majority of the first group of interceptions, published on Monday, results a local socialist representative Arben Keshi, who according to SP sources, was subsequently appointed director in one of the Interior Ministry branches.
The ones published on Wednesday mainly include Gjinkuri and Tahiri, who is currently under charges for links with the Vlora region Habilaj gang operating in Vlora during his time in office.
The additionally show Ymer Lala, alleged criminal figure of the region, discussing with above-mentioned politicians on how to buy votes.
Prime Minister Rama, who is also allegedly heard in a conversation with Keshi about the election situation and the expected outcome, reacted by saying that according to him that “the uninvestigated interceptions of Saliu’s servant again show that they were done for blackmail.”
Later in the week, Rama first accepted the veracity of the interceptions and later said he would sue German journalist Pieter Tiede for defamation.
The interceptions
It is alleged the first group of interceptions include Prime Minister Edi Rama, former Infrastructure Minister Damian Gjiknuri, SP candidate for the Municipality of Lezhà« Pjerin Ndreu, former deputy Artan Gaà§e, director of the Interior Ministry Arben Keshi, Director of Education in Debar Drini Gjeci and Chief of Police Station No. 5 in Kamza Sali Skura.
Interception 1
Edi Rama calls Arben Keshi, director at the Interior Ministry and asks him whether he has realized his objective and spoken with the commissioners.
“Keshi: Hey boss.
Rama: How is it looking?
Keshi: Well, we are meeting expectations well.
Rama: Have you realized the goals?
Keshi: I think so. We have, according to what the commissioners tell us.
Rama: Is that so?
Keshi: Yes, yes, I believe so.
Rama: Did those degenerates try to pressure you last night?
Keshi: Yes, they wanted to get me but it was a two minute thing as I was entering the SHTABI, they were waiting for me at the hotel I was sleeping.
Rama: And what would they do to you?
Keshi: It was about 50 of them. Nothing, this pressure stuff with hitting and such. That Flamur Noka is a bad man.
Rama: Flamur Noka has nothing on you man.”
The interception continues with Rama asking Keshi again whether objectives have been met and Keshi reassuring him the commissioners have said so.
Interception 2
Socialist MP Artan Gaci speaks to Keshi and tells him that Rama greatly appreciates him and the work he has done during the electoral campaign.
“Gaci: We were in Ndroq with the big boss…great words for you.
Keshi: Thanks.
Gaci: No, on his side, from him, and certainly myself too. He said all Maqellare was won because of you. He said you also won in 2011, but some stuff happened with one box. It’s all Beni’s merit.”
Interception 3
Keshi speaks to an unidentified SP representative about buying the votes of one family.
“SP representative: I’m at Tasie Lleshi.
Keshi: What is she saying?
SP representative: Refiku doesn’t want. She says 30, if it’s not around 30 she doesnn’t want to.
Keshi: Let them, if they don’t want them let them. Let them go at the DP.”
Interception 4
Keshi speaks to Drini Gjeci, Head of Education in Diber and asks him to pressure all teachers that if they don’t vote for the SP they will be dismissed.
“Gjeci: Do you think the directors did their job, or should I have a meeting with them all?
Keshi: Call them one by one. On Monday you will all be damned. All directors on the phone, tell them ‘report on who have you called for’ because they are sleeping. Women, men, whatever. You will remind all teachers, based on the lists you have submitted. If they want to be employed on Monday.”
Interception 5
Arben Keshi speaks with Sali Skura, Head of the Kamza Police Station No. 5, and asks him to stop DP voters living in Kamza but with the right to vote in Diber. Skura says he has set up police patrols to stop them.
“Keshi: You Kamza people tire us. Stop the Kamza buses.
Skura: Well, we’ve put police blockpoints. They are expected to start tomorrow around three.
Keshi: Do you have any information on how many?
Skura: It is thought to be 450 to 500 people.
Keshi: Dis Xhelali organize them?
Skura: Xhelali has organized the whole municipality today. He is leading them to new Tourism Hotel in Lura. How does Maqellara look?
Arben Keshi: Maqellara is good because there is no Kamez point.
Skura: The problem is Lura. But we have all commissioners in our pockets, right?
Keshi: Yes, yes.”
Head of opposition: “Removing Rama from office is a national mission”
On the eve of the elections, the Democratic Party filed a criminal charge against a number of local police directors, regional education officials, tax authorities, OSHEE, etc. and publicly denounced Ymer Lala, an allegedly renowned criminal figure in the area.
Following the publication of the latest interceptions, head of the opposition’s Democratic Party Lulzim Basha reacted through a Facebook post.
“Edi Rama is the crime padrino. He no longer has an alibi. Removing him and his band from office is a national mission,” Basha wrote.
Rama vows to sue German journalist over defamation
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama claimed on Monday that he is being blackmailed by the publication of prosecution-intercepted conversations that are alleged to highlight widespread violations by scores of Socialist Party officials during local elections in the Dibra municipality.
In a series of messages on Twitter, Rama said he will sue Peter Tiede, a German journalist who published the leaked conversations in the German newspaper Bild.
“I decided to sue this journalist in German courts and in that blessed country,” Rama said in one Twitter post, hours after new 16 intercepted phone calls were published by Bild in German and English, and the audio was posted on Tiede’s Facebook page in Albanian.
Meanwhile, Rama previously confirmed that the conversation between him and Keshi was genuine, but denied any wrongdoing, insisting that Keshi was not a public official during the elections, just a Socialist Party supporter.
“I do confirm this conversation and I would do it again,” Rama wrote on Twitter. “AK did not work in the police force back then,” he added.
It is based on this detail that Rama claims he will sue Tiede for.
