The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) suspects that the concession granted for the construction and operation of Vlora International Airport may have involved legal violations. Five months after former SPAK head Altin Dumani informed Parliament that the concession procedures were under preliminary investigation, his successor, current SPAK chief Klodian Braho, has formally charged the first suspects, just as the statute of limitations was nearing expiration.

Sources confirmed for albaniandailynews.com that three members of the Bid Evaluation Commission (KVO) have been officially accused of violating equality in tenders. These officials were part of the panel that, in March 2021, awarded the 35-year concession to a consortium consisting of Mabco Construction, owned by Behgjet Pacolli, Turkish firm YDA Group, and 2A Group, owned by Valon Ademi.

Given that the criminal offense carries a statute of limitations of five years, SPAK has moved quickly to formally charge the commission members—officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy—whose identities have not yet been made public. Investigations are ongoing into the potential involvement of other high-ranking officials.

SPAK suspects that through their actions or inaction, from December 2019 when the concession was first announced until March 2021 when the procedure concluded, the officials may have favored the winning consortium in the €104.3 million investment for the construction and operation of Vlora International Airport over a 35-year period.

The contract with the winning companies was signed in April 2021 by then-Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku. A month later, on May 17, 2021, “Vlora International Airport” was officially established, with Mabco Construction holding 58%, YDA Group 40%, and 2A Group 2%.

However, several months later, the Turkish company withdrew from the project, citing a lack of profitability, and sold its shares to Pacolli. This move appears to have triggered a dispute between the remaining shareholders, Mabco Construction and 2A Group, which now claims up to 49% of shares based on its investment.

The situation has led to a legal conflict between shareholders and a separate investigation by the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office into a loan taken by Pacolli in the name of the airport company.

The construction of Vlora International Airport has now become part of a criminal case, while the opening date for operations remains uncertain despite missed deadlines.