Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha was placed under house arrest. The special court responsible for corruption and organized crime today ordered, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office, that the politician is not allowed to leave his home in Tirana until further notice and can only communicate with family members, Albanian media reported. His lawyers want to appeal.
Portal/Florion Goga
Investigations also against son-in-law
The Public Prosecutor's Office suspects the former prime minister of abuse of power in connection with the privatization of the Partizani sports center in Tirana, from which his son-in-law Jamarber Malltezi allegedly benefited. The Public Ministry is also investigating him. He is also under house arrest. The opposition leader denies the accusations. On December 21, Tirana's parliament lifted his immunity, paving the way for criminal investigations.
Berisha has been on the US sanctions list since 2021
The US placed Berisha, 78, on its sanctions list in 2021 on suspicion of corruption. In 1992, Albanians elected him as the first freely elected president after the end of communism. He was prime minister from 2005 to 2013. Until 2013, Berisha also led the conservative Democratic Party of Albania (PD), which he returned to as head the previous year.