How it started and what is the 'Babale' file that led MP Ervin Salianji to prison

The Court of Appeal upheld today the sentence of 1 year imprisonment for the democratic deputy Ervin Salianji. He is accused of "false accusation" for the case of the audio-interception where it was claimed that the brother of the former Minister of the Interior, Fatmir Xhafaj, was involved in an episode of drug trafficking.

The decision, announced by the panel of judges with rapporteur Elona Toro and members Iliba Bezati and Genti Shala, to convict MP Salianji from the Court of Appeal was met with tension because after the decision his colleagues accused the court of the decision taken. 

With today's decision of the Court of Appeal, Salianji is expected to undergo the procedures to start serving the sentence, since it is a final decision. The constitution provides that in such a case, the mandate of a deputy becomes invalid. Salianji will also lose the opportunity to run in the next parliamentary elections.

How did it start and what is the Babale file?

The sentence against Salianji is related to an audio recording published by him in the Democratic Party in May 2018, where it was hinted that the brother of the Minister of the Interior at the time, Fatmir Xhafajt, was talking to a citizen named Albert Veliu about drug trafficking.

After the publication of the audio recording, Geron Xhafaj filed a complaint against his accusers, claiming that the audio recording was fabricated. After making the report, Geron Xhafaj handed himself over to the Italian justice authorities to serve an earlier sentence for drug trafficking.

Salianji was sentenced on December 18, 2019 to 1 year in prison in the first degree, while the accused as an accomplice was for "false report", the journalist Jetmir Olldashi was sentenced to 6 months of imprisonment, but the execution of this measure and the sentence was suspended. converted with 100 hours of work in the public interest.

The defendant Albert Veliu was sentenced to 10 months in prison for the criminal offense of "Illegal Border Crossing" and 2 years and 10 months in prison for "False Accusation" in cooperation, which together resulted in a final sentence of 3 years and 5 months imprisonment. Fredi Alizoti was sentenced to two years in prison for "false accusation". The decision in the first instance was given by judge Artan Gjermeni.

The conviction of the journalist Olldashi

Together with Salianji, the journalist Jetmir Olldashi was also found guilty under the charge of 'false reporting'. For the latter, the decision of the Court of Appeal is 100 hours of community work.