SPAK Asks Parliament to Approve Arrest of Belinda Balluku, Rama's No. 2: Under Investigation for 7 Tenders

Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SPAK) has formally submitted a request to Parliament seeking authorization to arrest and deprive of liberty MP, minister, and deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku.

SPAK Statement

The Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), acting pursuant to Articles 73, 95, and 103 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, Article 288 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as well as Articles 13 and 118 of the Rules of Procedure of the Albanian Parliament, and within the framework of criminal case no. 136 of 2025, has submitted a request to the Albanian Parliament for authorization to arrest/detain the following MP/minister/deputy prime minister:

Belinda Balluku, born and residing in Tirana, who currently serves as a Member of Parliament, Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania.

The individual has been taken as a defendant in criminal case no. 136 of 2025, after being charged with the criminal offense of:

"Violation of equality of participants in public tenders or auctions," committed in cooperation, as provided for under Articles 258/2 and 25 of the Criminal Code, in connection with the procurement procedure for the project "Construction of the Llogara Tunnel."

In addition, Belinda Balluku has been placed under investigation on suspicion of committing the same criminal offense in seven additional procurement procedures, related to the following projects:

"Completion, coordination, and continuation of works at Shqiponja Square–Tirana River, Lot 1 and QMT"
"Construction of the road segment Shqiponja Square–New Boulevard, Lot 2"
"Construction of the road segment Shqiponja Square–New Boulevard–Shkozë, bridges over the Tirana River"
"Construction of Tirana's Outer Ring Road, Lot 4"
"Construction of Tirana's Outer Ring Road, Lot 5"
"Construction of Tirana's Outer Ring Road, Lot 6"
"Construction of Tirana's Outer Ring Road, Lot 7"

The request aims to obtain Parliament's authorization for further legal proceedings.

Clarification: Every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court ruling.