Democratic Party says it will formally notify NATO and international partners about what it describes as suspected arms trafficking involving state-owned defense company KAYO and a company linked to Israeli businessman Ron Yeffet.

The announcement came after lawmakers from the ruling Socialist Party rejected a request for a parliamentary investigation into the allegations.

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said the opposition would submit the documents to Albania’s Special Prosecutor’s Office, known as SPAK, as well as to NATO and the defense ministries of member states.

“We will inform all defense ministries of NATO member states and the Alliance itself,” Berisha said.

Opposition alleges state contracts and political connections

Berisha has alleged that Yeffet gained control of assets and contracts worth tens of millions of euros from the Albanian state budget.

He also claimed that Yeffet's business interests expanded following the appearance of his business partner, Arjeta Puca, on a podcast hosted by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Berisha further alleged that former State Intelligence Service chief Vlora Hyseni and former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku had links to Yeffet.

The Democratic Party has not publicly established these allegations as proven facts, but says the documents it possesses warrant an investigation by Albanian authorities and international partners.

The opposition has called on SPAK to summon Prime Minister Edi Rama for questioning, alleging that government decisions and legislation helped create what it describes as a network within Albania's defense sector.

Berisha said the alleged scheme could have implications beyond Albania's national security and potentially affect the country's obligations and cooperation within NATO.