The leader of Albania’s opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, is summoned to attend the first preliminary hearing on Monday, regarding a case related to payments that his party made to US lobbying firm Muzin Capitol Partners, which were not declared in Albania.

The first preliminary hearing for Basha, and two other DP officials, Arben Ristani and Ilir Dervishi, will be held as they are charged with forgery of forms.

At the hearing the court may take one of the following three decisions; to return the case, to stand trial or to dismiss it for lack of evidence on the charges brought.

Lulzim Basha was taken as defendant in Court of Tirana before the Prosecutor's Office for lobbying with USD 675,000 in the United States through the offshore company Biniata Trade for the 2017 parliamentary elections. DP’s Arben Ristani and the accountant of this political force Ilir Dervishi, are also charged.

The above-mentioned are accused of "falsifying documents and forms" after failing to disclose the amount in the Democratic Party's financial statements with the Central Election Commission. Whereas the charges for “Laundering of proceeds of of crime” were dropped.

If the charges of forgery are proven, the person responsible for their compilation, is sentenced with up to 7 years of imprisonment.

On November 14, 2017, Stonington Strategies reported to the Department of Justice that it received two payments from the Democratic Party amounting to USD 500,000 and a third payment from Biniatta Trade LP worth USD 150,000. None of these payments was declared in the financial report submitted by the DP to the Central Election Commission for the June 25 elections, which raises serious doubts about the origin of the money.