British analyst Gabriel Partos, former head of BBC's Albanian section, said Sali Berisha’s designation persona non grata by UK has nothing to do with corruption. According to him, it is related to Berisha’s stance against Serbia.

In an interview with the Albanian television Report TV, Partos repeated his belief that UK decided against Berisha because he objected the Open Balkans initiative.

“Mr. Berisha’s nationalist rhetoric that is trying to undermine Premier Edi Rama’s efforts to increase the regional cooperation through the Open Balkans initiative with the North Macedonia and Serbia is considered in London, too, as a threat to the stability in the Western Balkans”, Partos said. “In a time when Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the geopolitical tensions in the entire Europe, and whil China is trying to expand its influence in the Western Balkans, the United Kingdom, along with the United States and the European Union, is determined to contradict activities that are considered as threats to the regional stability. The latest move of the United Kingdom also shows its solidarity with the United States which designated Mr. Berisha in May last year”.

The Open Balkans initiative was an idea of US progressive billionaire George Soros and his son Alex shows up in every summit of the initiative.