Money laundering

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) and Socialist Party secretary-general Damian Gjiknuri. Photo: LSA

The opposition claims that the scheme would allow criminal to launder proceeds of illegal activities, in a country where money-laundering and organised crime are a serious concern.

The Special Prosecution Against Organised Crime and Corruption said on Tuesday that two investigations of President Ilir Meta have begun after former MP Halit Valteri issued two criminal complaints accusing him of abuses related to lobbying contracts with US firms.

The building of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France.  Photo: EPA-EFE/PATRICK SEEGER

Had the company done that, "this Court would have had the benefit of the views of the national courts", the ruling read.

The ECHR said the company had failed to take appropriate steps to enable national courts to fulfil their fundamental role.

A growing number of Albanian crime figures are finding refuge and laundering money in the United Arab Emirates, knowing that authorities in Albania and elsewhere in Europe will struggle to secure their extradition.

If Turkey joins Syria and Lebanon as the third narco-state in the Eastern Mediterranean, this will only compound the region’s trafficking and money laundering problems

Celje – A long-running trial over allegedly bogus consultancy contract related to the 2007 acquisition of stock of a fish-processing company by builder Vegrad has collapsed after a court-appointed expert found that consultancy services were in fact provided and the prosecution withdrew the indictment against prominent lawyer Miro Senica and co-defendants.

Council of Europe conference in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: Council of Europe.

Yngve Engstrom, head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, told the conference that the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system in Montenegro must be improved.

President Milo Djukanovic at a press conference in Cetinje, Montenegro. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

On November 13, BIRN has published theTaci's wiretapped conversations in which the Albanian businessman said he had involved Djukanovic in money transfers to Montenegro's Prva Bank.

The existence of offshore accounts is clearly an attempt to circumvent the law, toldbTV financial expert Kolio Paranov in connection with the revelations of Pandora Papers.

The European Court of Human Rights has decided to prioritise journalist and MEP Elena Yoncheva of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats against the Bulgarian government. She accused them of launching a money laundering case against her to repress and discredit her work, Yoncheva's lawyer Mihail Ekimdzhiev told EURACTIV Bulgaria.