Why does corruption survive in Albania? CSDG report: Handcuffing officials is not enough, the system must be attacked

Almost every day for the past 5 years, the news has reported on officials or criminal groups being investigated and brought to justice. But is this enough? The biggest question remains: why does corruption continue to survive in Albania?

The report published by the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG) highlights that there has been improvement in the criminal investigation of corruption cases. However, the report underlines that the fight against corruption should not be limited to targeting officials or criminal groups, but should go further, to targeting the very system that produces and sustains it.

One of the report's main findings is that many cases are classified as high-level corruption only because they involve senior officials, while the real economic and institutional damage caused is often not analyzed.

The EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, emphasized that more should be said about the economic damage caused by corruption.

"There is a lot of talk about the costs of justice, but not about the costs of corruption and the damage it causes," Gonzato said.

Another element highlighted in the report is the evolution of corruption and organized crime schemes. Today, corruption no longer manifests itself only through classic bribery, but also through the use of legal procedures and institutional mechanisms to legitimize predetermined decisions.

For SPAK prosecutor Vladimir Mara, this makes corruption more difficult to detect and prove.

However, Mara emphasized that SPAK has already put into practice the parallel launch of criminal and property investigations.

"Asset tracing, confiscations and seizures still remain a challenge and require sophisticated tools," Mara said.

The report emphasizes that the main problem remains the system and not just individuals, as corruption in Albania is considered a structural phenomenon.

Mara also added that asset freeze is a key element in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

"An official can be replaced, a criminal group can be restructured, but if their assets are taken away, then they are really hit," he said.

Another finding of the report is the close connection between corruption and organized crime.

For the GJKKO judge, Engert Pellumbi, corruption and organized crime should be treated as an integrated phenomenon, as corruption serves as a bridge for criminal activities.

"Attention should be focused on the triangle: Business - Senior Officials - Organized Crime," said Pellumbi.

He also emphasized that we should not be satisfied with the results achieved so far, but that the fight against corruption and organized crime must be consistent and long-term, showing that the special structures have no intention of stopping.

Money laundering continues to be a major problem, while the main focus of corruption remains on public contracts and projects.

For the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Reinout Vos, reforms should not remain just theories or signatures on paper, but must be applicable and long-term to guarantee the functioning of a democratic state.

In closing, judge Engert Pellumbi brought a message inspired by Victor Hugo:

"The opening of a school brings the closing of a prison."

This message reminds us that the fight against corruption and crime is not won only by counting those arrested or convicted, but by educating society and creating conscious citizens.

A more educated and aware society produces more responsible individuals than corrupt officials./acqj.al

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