Tirana, February 13, 2025 – The State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, held an official meeting today with the Head of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), Mr. Altin Dumani, to discuss strengthening institutional mechanisms for preventing and prosecuting electoral crimes.
During the meeting, Mr. Dumani emphasized that SPAK aims for a more proactive approach in handling cases with criminal elements during electoral processes. He highlighted the importance of close cooperation with the Central Election Commission (CEC) and the need to establish an Institutional Coordination Protocol, which would create open 24/7 communication channels between institutions. As part of this protocol, SPAK will organize specialized structures at both central and local levels, composed of prosecutors and investigators working in sync with CEC representatives at all levels.
Another key point of discussion was the broader involvement of law enforcement institutions in monitoring the electoral process. According to Mr. Dumani, SPAK, in collaboration with the CEC and the General Prosecutor’s Office, will maintain an active presence on the ground to closely monitor the situation from three months before the elections until the completion of the vote-counting process. Dedicated mechanisms will be established to ensure immediate reporting and rapid intervention in cases where violations are identified.
SPAK also called for cooperation in developing a unified reporting system, enabling citizens, civil society, and other stakeholders to report potential electoral crimes. The collected data will be analyzed by prosecutors and investigators to verify the validity of claims and initiate investigations in suspected cases. In this context, Mr. Dumani requested that the CEC organize joint training sessions for SPAK prosecutors, investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and CEC experts, focusing on identifying electoral offenses and collecting evidence for thorough and effective investigations.
Another request from SPAK was access to the CEC’s Public Activity Reporting Interface (NIR), a system that could help identify potential violations during the election campaign and administration.
For his part, the State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, emphasized that, in addition to the CEC, other election stakeholders support the creation and functioning of a centralized institutional coordination mechanism between the CEC, SPAK, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the State Police. He also announced the establishment of the Electoral Process Monitoring Center at the CEC, which will receive real-time information from the field 24/7 through technology and resources provided by commissioners, monitors, and authorized CEC representatives. SPAK investigators may also be engaged in this center to ensure the immediate follow-up of cases with criminal elements.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Celibashi and Dumani agreed on finalizing the Coordination Protocol between the CEC, SPAK, and the General Prosecutor’s Office, creating a clear mechanism for information exchange, case follow-up, and coordination efforts to safeguard the integrity of elections in Albania. Through this agreement, the institutions commit to closer cooperation and concrete actions in combating electoral crimes, ensuring transparency and accountability at all stages of the electoral process.
