Authored by Petrit Latifi

The article discusses corrupt Albanian politicians whos actions and corruption has lead to the degradation and decadence in terms of Albanian public interests, healthcare, infrastructure, education, welfare, healthcare and other national interests. We will here list corrupt Albanian politicians.

Corruption and Crime in Kosovo’s Political Leadership

Corruption has led to the decline of public services in Albania and Kosovo, including healthcare, infrastructure, education and welfare. Here we list some of the most prominent cases of political corruption, with a particular focus on former President Hashim Thaçi.

Hashim Thaçi and his crimes

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been a central figure in the country’s politics for decades. He has been accused and convicted of various crimes, including the murder of Albanian political opponents, which led to a ten-year prison sentence in 1997. He has also been criticized for mismanaging his duties as president.

Links to Organized Crime

According to several intelligence reports, Thaçi, known as “The Snake”, has been involved in organized crime, including the smuggling of weapons, oil and cigarettes, as well as prostitution. He has also been accused of ordering the murder of political rivals to secure his power.

A 2008 report by Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and a 2010 Council of Europe report authored by Dick Marty link Thaçi to networks involved in arms smuggling, drug trafficking and the illegal trade in human organs. The Marty report alleges that prisoners of war, including Serbs and Albanian Kosovars, were killed so that their organs could be sold on the black market.

Systematic corruption and financial crime

During and after Thaçi’s time in power, millions of euros were lost through bribes, public contracts and money laundering. During his term as Prime Minister (2008–2014), it was reported that a single family business was awarded contracts worth €170 million in Kosovo’s energy sector without legal consequences. He is also accused of privatising and selling off the country’s assets for personal gain, including Kosovo’s electricity grid.

Fraud and Concentration of Power

Following the 2010 parliamentary elections, 171 complaints of fraud and manipulation were filed. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), which Thaçi founded, used violence and intimidation to secure its political dominance. According to a BBC report in 2000, the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), an extension of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), used extortion and violence to finance its activities and eliminate opposition.

International accusations and trials

Freedom House has repeatedly reported on Thaçi’s and former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj’s links to organized crime. A 2011 report identified Thaçi as one of the “largest players” in Kosovo’s organized crime. The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has also singled out Thaçi as a central figure in the country’s corrupt power structure.

In June 2020, Thaçi was indicted by the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and persecution during the Kosovo War. In November 2024, new charges were added for attempting to influence testimony and obstruct justice.

Criticism from Albanian journalists

Albanian journalist Milaim Zeka has long criticized Thaçi and his circle, accusing him of collaborating with Serbian criminal networks. He has called on Thaçi and his generation to leave politics to make way for a younger, less corrupt leadership class.

Conclusion
Hashim Thaçi’s political legacy is marked by organized crime, corruption and abuse of power. His actions have had a negative impact on Kosovo’s development and democratic processes, which continues to hamper the country’s progress.

Former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and President Hashim Thaci in December 2018. Photo: EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Fatmir Lima being tried for corruption tries to flee the court pretending his tooth hurts.

Reference

https://balkaninsight.com/2022/04/20/us-watchdog-accuses-kosovo-politicians-of-corruption-links/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hashim-Thaci

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/24/hashim-thaci-kosovo-organised-crime