The spokeswoman of the opposition campaign for the Municipality of Tirana, Silvi Bardhi, said today the blackmailing message of Mayor Erion Veliaj to the Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti cost €110 million to Albanians.

“Why? Because Becchetti’s television was not by Veliaj’s side, because its investigations ruined Veliaj’s mood”, Bardhi said in a statement after the Italian businessman won the legal confrontation with the Albanian government over the shutdown of the Agon Channel. Albania will be forced to pay Becchetti €110 million.

Bardhi added that “Veliaj’s threatening messages were the proof that made the Arbitration Court to rule in the Italian’s favor against the Albanian State”.

She also read an explanation of former Minister of Finances Arben Malaj about the case in December 18, 2019:

“Do you know that the €110 million penalty that the poor Albanian taxpayers will pay to Becchetti is based on the SMSs of Edi Rama and Erio Veliaj that threatened an independent medium, do you know this? But the penalty will be imposed on Albania. Let me tell you three SMSs sent to him from Veliaj: do not speak about my wedding; do not become my enemy because I will do to you… At any international court, when a businessperson is threatened by politicians, the case is immediately won (by the businesspersons), but these are like little kids, they know nothing of legal responsibilities”.