TIRANA, Sept. 16 – An OSCE report detailing allegations of corruption and criminal ties for key members of the political class was leaked to the press this week, further sharpening the public opinion’s focus on decriminalization of politics.
Portions of the internal report of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were published by a right-leaning local news portal, Lapsi, providing information on the wealth and behavior of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and many other lower-tier politicians.
The report was filled with allegations of massive wealth, corruption and criminal ties among members of the political class.
Tirana Times does not have a copy of the report and cannot verify the quotes published by Lapsi, but the OSCE did not deny the report’s existence.
However, the head of the OSCE office in Albania, Ambassador Florian Rauning, said the leaked information was unauthorized and misleading and it does not represents OSCE’s official views.
“The summary was merely a collection of information from reports in the Albanian media and allegations circulating publicly. The presence did not verify the information used, as the purpose of the exercise was to obtain an overview of allegations, not to determine their truth,” Rauning said. “I would like to express our regret that this information was made public — without authorization — and subject to misinterpretation and political manipulation.”
He added the OSCE regretted “any distress it might have caused to those mentioned in the information material” and stressed the “the excellent relations” the OSCE has with all the institutions in the country with which they will continue to work closely.
Media outlets owned by wealthy lawmakers cited in the reports went on the offensive the day after the leak.
“OSCE should be kicked out of Albania,” read one main headline of “Shekulli,” a daily owned by Socialist lawmaker and wealthy entrepreneur Koà§o Kokà«dhima, one of the people mentioned in the report.
While most of the allegations targeted members of the Socialist-led ruling coalition, the report also drew fire from Berisha, the former Democratic Party perennial leader and prime minister, who sent a public a letter to Rauning protesting the implication that Berisha’s children had become wealthy as a result of his position as a former prime minister.
