Sali Berisha, Albania’s former prime minister, is once again at the centre of a high-profile legal battle as prosecutors push to reinstate house arrest amid allegations of corruption.
The country’s anti-corruption prosecutors have lodged an appeal to reverse a court ruling that lifted Berisha’s house arrest. At the heart of the case is the controversial privatisation of Tirana’s Partizani sports complex, with prosecutors accusing Berisha of using his position to orchestrate the deal in favour of his son-in-law, Jamarbër Malltezi.
Legal fight intensifies
Speaking after the hearing, Berisha’s lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, dismissed the appeal as “a procedural formality” and claimed it lacked substance.
“Nothing new was presented. The prosecution failed to clarify any causal links or provide concrete evidence,” Gjokutaj said, adding that the court had delayed its decision until 6 January.
Prosecutors, however, argue that Berisha leveraged state mechanisms during his time as prime minister to enable Malltezi’s acquisition of the lucrative land. They allege Berisha’s involvement included signing sub-legal acts that cleared the way for the deal.
Malltezi, meanwhile, faces separate charges of money laundering alongside other individuals linked to the privatisation, including property developer Fatmir Bektashi and businessman Xhimi Begeja.
EU pressure for reform
Berisha, once a towering figure in Albanian politics, was officially indicted in September. While he denies all allegations, the case comes at a critical moment for Albania’s EU aspirations, which hinge on demonstrating significant progress in tackling corruption.
Judicial reforms have been a key demand from Brussels, yet critics say they remain unevenly applied, particularly against high-ranking officials. The Special Prosecution Against Corruption (SPAK) sees the Berisha case as a test of its ability to deliver accountability at the top.
For now, all eyes remain on Judge Flojera Davidhi, who will decide whether the case proceeds to a full trial. If convicted, Berisha could face a legacy-defining fall from grace.
