The Ministry of Finances has been recently empowered to put telephones and other means of communication of its employees working in the tax and customs administrations under surveillance, reports the local press (Shekulli, 23.10.2009). On the 22nd of October, the Albanian parliament approved with 71 votes in favor and none against, changes in the law “On surveillance of telecommunications” (see on these changes former Tirana Times issues). The Ministry of Finances has been added to the list of institutions that are empowered to ask for surveillance operations be carried out.
The Minister of Finances, Ridvan Bode, has dispelled concern that the Ministry may start surveillance operations on businessmen. Quoted by Shekulli, Ridvan Bode declares that “the changes in the law do not concern surveillance of businessmen, but only surveillance of administration in respect of internal norms and regulations. That would improve the effects of the struggle waged against corruption and fiscal evasion in the tax and customs administration,” asserted the Minister.
Besides the Ministry of Finances, included in the list of the institutions that are empowered to ask for surveillance operations was the Ministry of Justice. At an earlier draft, only the Police of Prisons, which is dependant on the Ministry of Justice, had been allowed to ask for surveillance operations.
