SPAK's excuses for the non-investigation of Sali Berisha are an offence to the US' official stance

The head of SPAK, Arben Kraja has tried to maintain his distance from what he considers interferences of the international community regarding SPAK’s agenda when it comes to the lack of an investigation regarding Sali Berisha. In a recent interview, Mr. Kraja emphasized the importance of independent prosecutors, while reiterating that he has never received any instructions from the international community regarding on how to proceed with investigations.

Here there is room for two clarifications. Firstly, SPAK cannot receive instructions neither from the international community or Albanian politicians, since we are all aware that it is an independent institution. However, it is an institution that was created in the framework of the Justice System Reform, for which the Albanian constitution had to be adjusted in order to allow the United States and the European Union to observe the creation and functioning of certain links in the chain of the justice system. In this context, the recommendations of EU and US regarding the Justice System Reform are not interferences, but rather an obligation. The US has openly stated that the functioning of the Justice System Reform in Albania is of national importance for them.

Secondly, the US highest authorities that manage the Albanian issues have requested from our justice system to investigate Sali Berisha as an individual sanctioned by the State Department, under accusations of corruption, undermining the democracy and blackmailing the justice system. This is the official designation stated by the Secretary of State regarding Berisha and his family.

Even though in the past SPAK has launched investigations based simply on press releases, it claims that there is no evidence to begin an investigation against Sali Berisha and his family. Meanwhile, other public figures that have been placed under similar sanctions by the United States have been investigated immediately by SPAK.

There is no need for the United States and the European Union to interfere in SPAK’s work, especially when such interference on the justice system is not part of their culture. Both the US and EU have made public the sanctioning of Sali Berisha and his family and are asking officially for his investigation. The reasoning of certain exponents of Albania’s justice system that, designation as non-grata by the State Department is not enough to launch an investigation, is nothing more than offence to the State Department. An investigation process is supposed to find the facts and build the case.

The situation becomes even worse when another Western country like Great Britan, also has designated Sali Berisha as non-grata due to his connections with the organized crime. In their letter, the British authorities mention the influence that such organized crime groups have been used by Berisha for political purposes; while they go on to mention the names of such fourteen incriminated individuals. Still, there is no investigation from SPAK. The two most serious countries of the World with the most certified justice systems have accused Berisha as a thief and connected to organized crime groups.

It is difficult to say what more evidence the justice system needs in order to launch an investigation. We are talking here about someone who has killed protesters when he was Prime Minister and claims that he is proud about it. Despite such statements by Berisha, prosecutors hesitate to even question him.

Meanwhile, one cannot grasp why these prosecutors continue to offend and humiliate the West by using Berisha’s own rhetoric as they ask for more evidence, as if this was not part of their job instead. The West does not give directions for investigations. The West has already investigated and punished Sali Berisha. Now the US is asking officially for our justice system to respect the standards of investigation towards Sali Berisha, but SPAK refuses to do it. The rest are only weak excuses. If it was for excuses, Berisha can do a much better job than SPAK.