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The United States has imposed harsh economic sanctions today on former MP Aqif Rakipi and businessman Ylli Ndroqi. In the letter made public by the US Treasury Department, it is stated that organized crime remains an important issue in Albania.
Organized crime remains a significant threat in Albania and criminal actors remain influential in Albanian politics, using money and violence to convey support for their preferred candidates.
Aqif Rakipi (Rakipi) is a notorious former MP from Elbasan, Albania, who has a detrimental and destabilizing influence on the political process in Albania. Numerous organized crime groups (GCOs) in Albania have offered money, gifts, or job vacancies or concessions in exchange for votes for their favorite political party. Rakipi has long been involved in organized crime and is closely associated with an Organized Crime Group, within which he has exercised political influence, including through corruption. 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. He is designated under EO 14033 because he has been responsible or collaborating in or for direct or indirect involvement in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or affiliated with a government in the Western Balkans, or an official current or past government, 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 gain, or bribery.
Ylli Ndroqi (Ndroqi) is a media owner whose assets were seized by the Albanian government in 2020 and 2021 for previous criminal activities. Ndroqi has used the media that were previously under his control to extort and blackmail Albanian citizens through demands for money and purchase of advertisements in exchange for not publishing negative articles in the media. Ndroqi also mediated bribes on behalf of an entity seeking to do business in Albania. Ndroqi is defined under EO 14033 because he has been responsible or collaborating in or for direct or indirect involvement in corruption related to the Western Balkans, including corruption by, on behalf of, or affiliated with a government in the Western Balkans, or an official current or past government, 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 gain, or bribery.
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