Albanian Opposition Leader Sali Berisha Indicted on Corruption Charges

Albania's main opposition leader Sali Berisha has been officially indicted on corruption charges related to his tenure as prime minister. He describes the indictment as a political vendetta. The indictments accuse Berisha of using his influence to benefit relatives, which he denies. Controversy surrounds the political motives driving the prosecution.

Albania's main opposition leader Sali Berisha announced on Wednesday that he has been officially indicted on corruption charges for actions taken during his tenure as prime minister. Berisha described the indictment as a political vendetta.

Prosecutors accused Berisha in October of using his influence as prime minister between 2005 and 2009 to expedite a privatisation process favoring associates, including his son-in-law. Berisha firmly denies any wrongdoing.

"Can you imagine, they say I was corrupted by my son-in-law," Berisha remarked outside the prosecutors' office in Tirana. He revealed receiving a 500-page indictment and confirmed that his son-in-law has also been indicted. Berisha, who has been under house arrest since December, accused current Prime Minister Edi Rama of orchestrating the prosecution against him, a claim Rama denies. The prosecutors' office has yet to confirm the indictments, leaving the trial date uncertain.

In 2021, the U.S. barred Berisha and his family from entering, citing corruption during his time as prime minister for personal and political gain. A similar ban was imposed by the UK. Berisha, who served as president from 1992 to 1997 and prime minister from 2005 to 2013, currently leads the Democratic Party, Albania's main opposition party.

(With inputs from agencies.)