Albania formalises corruption charges against former deputy PM Belinda Balluku

Albanian prosecutors formalised corruption charges against former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku in Tirana on October 20, according to Reuters. The case concerns alleged interference in public contracts and has become a focus of anti-government protests. Balluku has denied wrongdoing in response to the earlier charges.

The Special Prosecution Office said in an emailed statement reported by Reuters that the formalised charges include violating the equality of participants in public tenders or auctions, passive corruption involving high-ranking state officials, and laundering proceeds of criminal activity. These are prosecutors’ allegations; the report did not establish a court finding against Balluku.

The construction contracts at the centre of the case

Rama dismissed Balluku in February 2026, Reuters reported. An attempt to remove her parliamentary immunity, which prevents her arrest, failed. Balluku has made no public comment since denying wrongdoing over the original charges and did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on October 20.

Protests in Tirana and the next procedural step

The case has unfolded amid student-led protests in Tirana over corruption in public institutions. Reuters reported that protesters gathered outside an education ministry building on October 20, shouting ‘Balluku to jail!’, before police pushed them back with water cannon and tear gas. Demonstrators have called for Rama to resign; he has refused and condemned the violence.

Rama said the government would consider lowering the age of criminal liability and imposing a social media ban for children under 16 in response to the protests, according to Reuters. The Special Prosecution Office said it was continuing procedural steps to formally communicate charges to other people involved in the same criminal case.