New revelations surrounding Fate Velaj are putting Austria’s foreign policy to the test.

After the embarrassing diplomatic disaster surrounding the notorious “Sado Maso” ambassador, the next scandal is brewing in the Austrian Foreign Ministry. At the center of it all is Fate Velaj, currently Albania’s ambassador to Vienna. According to the investigative portal Fass ohne Boden (FOB), Velaj is under serious suspicion—both regarding his past and his current conduct in office.

Evidence of irregularities in the BMEIA: FPÖ calls for clarification

In connection with past diplomatic incidents involving the former ÖVP-affiliated “Sado-Maso ambassador” in Brussels and the scandal-ridden Albanian ambassador in Vienna, Fate Velaj, there are growing indications of possible irregularities in Austrian-Albanian diplomacy. Particular focus is being placed on Velaj’s appointment as ambassador – Krone and Der Standard reported on corresponding inconsistencies as early as 2024.

These incidents raise serious questions and require comprehensive and transparent clarification.

Velaj’s ongoing appointments of new honorary consuls are currently being viewed with particular criticism. Observers are calling for these appointments to be suspended immediately until all outstanding questions have been clarified. Among other things, there are suspicions of unlawful influence and possible financial payments to the ambassador in connection with the new appointments.

Albanian government bank well aware of Fate Velaj’s practices

According to consistent statements by several insiders, a member of the Albanian government is said to have made an explosive remark about Ambassador Velaj while on a flight to Vienna accompanied by a businessman. He is quoted as saying: “If you offer Fate money, he will be very creative and do anything for it!”

This statement also gives a good insight into how the Albanian ambassador in Vienna apparently ticks.

The competent authorities and the BMEIA are now called upon to investigate these allegations thoroughly in order to avoid further damage to trust in diplomatic institutions.

Trustee of Albanian politics?

In addition, according to various sources, there are indications that the ambassador in Vienna may have managed funds from government circles or Albanian politicians via Austrian bank accounts. The Albanian anti-corruption authority SPAK is also said to be investigating these suspicions. In this context, full disclosure of all relevant accounts in Austria is being demanded in order to investigate the allegations and ensure transparency.

Hide-and-seek at the embassy?

According to FOB, Velaj is said to have accommodated his criminally active sister-in-law on the premises of the Albanian embassy in Vienna, apparently to protect her from the Austrian judiciary. This behavior is not only morally questionable, but also highly controversial from a diplomatic standpoint. exxtra24 has obtained a document from the State Department that refers to internal discussions on this matter.

From electrician to diplomat – with a bought education

Another detail that is causing a stir: Fate Velaj was originally an electrician and is said to have bought an academic degree from the notorious “Kristal University” in Tirana – a private institution that has since been closed due to numerous scandals. The Albanian Court of Auditors listed the university in a 2014 report as one of several dubious “diploma mills” in Albania (source: Top Channel, 2014).

What makes this particularly piquant is that, despite his dubious title, Velaj apparently gained access to further studies in Austria. How this was possible remains unanswered at present. According to renowned plagiarism researcher Dr. Stefan Weber, Velaj’s bachelor’s thesis is currently undergoing thorough examination.

Social welfare from Austria – salary from Albania

According to FOB, Velaj is said to have received social welfare benefits in Austria while simultaneously serving as a member of the Albanian parliament and collecting a salary. Particularly puzzling: in an official declaration of assets, Velaj reported a fortune of 1.8 million euros. How this wealth is compatible with the parallel social benefits from Austria remains unclear.

SPAK investigations and parliamentary inquiry

According to Fass ohne Boden, the Albanian Special Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has already launched an investigation into Velaj. In the past, his appointment as ambassador was already the subject of a parliamentary inquiry by the NEOS party (see: Parlament.gv.at, inquiry response 2021).

Irony of fate: Beate Meinl-Reisinger, then NEOS club chairwoman, is now foreign minister. And according to internal information, she is the one trying to keep the case under wraps. Several whistleblowers have now sent exxtra24 and FOB explosive documents from the ministry showing that Velaj’s questionable past has been known for a long time.

Literary appearance with political overtones by the SPÖ Vice-Chancellor

On September 23, Fate Velaj plans to present his novel “Kreuztanne” in Traiskirchen – with a laudatory speech by Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ). exxtra24 has the exclusive rights to the complete manuscript. Security experts from Albania and the Balkan region with whom exxtra24 spoke consider the stories to be either “completely fabricated” or evidence that Velaj was indeed working for the Yugoslav secret service on an unofficial mission at the time in order to cross borders unhindered under Albania’s communist regime. The fact that he is said to have succeeded in doing so on several occasions is highly unusual from a historical perspective and raises questions that can no longer be ignored.

Conclusion: How long will you stand by and watch, Minister?

The Velaj case is increasingly becoming a burden for the Foreign Ministry – and especially for Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger. After the diplomatic disaster in the “Sado Maso” case, a consistent and transparent approach is now necessary. Instead, the impression is that this case is also being deliberately covered up, despite numerous indications of misconduct, plagiarism, dubious financial flows, and political connections.

It is now up to the minister to decide whether to act – or to wait again until the next diplomatic scandal further undermines confidence in Austria’s foreign policy.

Sources:

– Fass ohne Boden (www.fob.at), report dated July 28, 2025

– Top Channel, report on Kristal University, May 2014

– Parlament.gv.at, response to inquiry in 2021 regarding the Velaj case

– Statement by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Weber to exxtra24, July 2025

– Internal documents and emails from the Foreign Ministry, available to exxtra24

– Krone Zeitung, article dated April 12, 2024

– Der Standard, report dated May 8, 2024 — _ https://exxpress.at/politik/parlaments-anfrage-riesenwirbel-um-neuen-botschafter-albaniens/