Albanian businessman Ylli Ndroqi and former Socialist MP Aqif Rakipi have been declared non grata by the United States of America. 

The news was announced by the US Embassy in Albania in a statement to the media. According to the US, Aqif Rakipi is a notorious former MP from Elbasan who has a "harmful and destabilizing influence on the political processes in Albania". It adds that Rakipi has long been involved in organized crime and according to the embassy is closely linked to an organized criminal group. 

"For example, Rakipi has used his political influence to appoint his friends to key public positions in Elbasan and Tirana. Rakipi lost his mandate as a member of the Albanian parliament after prosecutors confirmed his role in criminal activity under a pseudonym. 

It is determined on the basis of E.O. 14033 for being responsible or collaborating in or for direct or indirect involvement in corruption in the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or affiliated with, a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official, at any level of government in the Western Balkans, such as the appropriation of public property, the expropriation of private property for personal gain or political purposes, or bribery," it is said in the definition of Aqif Rakipi. 

Meanwhile, Ylli Ndroqi, according to the US, is the owner of the media and has used the latter to blackmail Albanian citizens through demands for money and the purchase of advertisements in exchange for not publishing negative articles in the media. 

"Also, Ndroqi has mediated bribes on behalf of an entity that wanted to do business in Albania. Ndroqi is determined on the basis of E.O. 14033 for being responsible or collaborating in or for direct or indirect involvement in corruption in the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or affiliated with, a government in the Western Balkans, or a current or former government official, at any level of government in the Western Balkans, such as the appropriation of public property, the expropriation of private property for personal gain or political purposes, or bribery," the embassy said, referring to Ylli Ndroqi.