TIRANA, March 22 – The names of three Albanian lawmakers have been removed from the list of the U.S.-Albania Parliamentary Friendship Group, according to a document made available by parliament officials.
The list published by the Parliament of Albania included 36 names instead of the previous 39, leaving out former Socialist MP Tom Doshi, Christian Democrat Mark Frroku and Socialist MP Pjerin Ndreu. All three have been involved in criminal investigations.
Doshi has also been removed as the chairman of the Friendship Group with Australia, and replaced with Ervin Bushati.
The decision comes just days after the postponement of the U.S.-Albania friendship meeting due to the political climate in the country.
Last week prosecutors had asked parliament to grant permission to have Doshi and Frroku arrested for giving false testimony in a recent case in which Doshi accused Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta of setting up an assassination plot against him.
Meta has denied the claim and parliament is discussing on lifting Doshi’s and Frroku’s immunity.
Ndreu, on the other hand, said that he had no idea he was part of the list in the first place, but also said he has no ties to crime. A former high police official, Ndreu is currently on trial for punching an opposition MP in parliament.
