Albanian PM reacts as SPAK dismisses accusations against his brother

Tirana, January 12, 2025 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to accusations against his brother, Olsi Rama, after the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) concluded there was no evidence linking him to drug trafficking.

Rama condemned the claims, which he called “fabrications” orchestrated by opposition MP Gazmend Bardhi. The allegations, which surfaced a while ago, accused Olsi Rama of being part of a drug trafficking network and alleged that prosecutors had hidden his identity in exchange for career favors from the Prime Minister.

“These were deliberate lies designed to attack me and my family,” Rama said in a public statement, adding, “SPAK has now made it clear that my brother has no connection to any criminal activity.”

SPAK’s investigation involved examining old case files and questioning multiple individuals. Its findings confirmed that Olsi Rama was not the unidentified individual mentioned in a prosecution file tied to a drug trafficking ring and found no evidence implicating him.

The Prime Minister accused Bardhi and his political allies of spreading the accusations to damage his reputation. He criticized what he described as a “politically motivated smear campaign” against his government and his family.

“Despite their relentless attempts to weaponize this fabrication in public, I chose to remain silent until justice spoke with evidence,” Rama said.

SPAK, an independent institution supported by international partners, is tasked with investigating high-level corruption and organized crime in Albania.