Albania’s Central Election Commission has withdrawn its membership from the Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO), as the proposal for the expulsion of Russia and Belarus was not carried. The CEC has been part of ACEEEO since its inception, which consists of the electoral commissions of 25 European countries, as well as a number of other bodies that administer elections in the respective countries.

“The ACEEEO General Assembly, after an extraordinary online meeting, paved the way for the vote to expel the electoral commissions of Russia and Belarus, as a result of their aggression in Ukraine. Also in contact with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the CEC voted in favor of the expulsion of Russia and Belarus. Due to lack of quorum, expulsion was not possible,” said Albanian CEC.

Meanwhile, some members of this organization, such as the electoral commissions of Slovenia, Croatia, Poland and others immediately announced they would quit the association, Albania’s State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi announced on March 9 the immediate withdrawal of the country's membership in ACEEEO, assessing that the CEC “has no reason to continue to be a member of this association, which does not represent the values ??on which it was created and it seems that it will go towards dissolution even formally”.

Moreover, Celibashi noted that the political and social systems of Russia and Belarus cannot have impartial, independent and free electoral administration institutions. “Kosovo’s CEC will also leave this organization. Meanwhile, I express to the CEC of Ukraine all my solidarity and support, of the institution I represent and of every Albanian, in these extremely difficult days for them,” he added.