Ahead of Albania’s May 11 elections, authorities in Elbasan and Librazhd have ramped up monitoring to combat misinformation and criminal interference, aiming to ensure a free and fair vote.

As Albania’s parliamentary elections draw near, the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) and the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) have launched an unprecedented campaign to monitor the electoral process in Elbasan and Librazhd. These two regions are under particularly close scrutiny due to concerns over possible criminal interference and the spread of disinformation. According to Balkan Insight (2025), daily operations by BKH and SPAK agents will continue until election day, ensuring strict oversight of all campaign-related activities.

Public Meetings Signal Seriousness

On Saturday morning, the investigative team met publicly with Elbasan Police Director Fatmir Hoxha and Chief Prosecutor Kreshnik Ajazi—a rare event that drew attention from locals, as reported by ABC News Albania (2025). This move was interpreted as a show of transparency and intent to demonstrate the seriousness of law enforcement’s role in safeguarding the integrity of the elections.

Rapid Response to Disinformation in Librazhd

Later that day, the officials continued their oversight in Librazhd, meeting Police Commissioner Elton Halili and Public Order Chief Gramoz Dafku. Here, attention centered on a widely shared case online alleging brutal violence during the campaign. However, as initial investigations revealed, the incident was entirely fabricated—an act of deliberate disinformation, according to preliminary findings cited by ABC News Albania. Authorities have since launched criminal proceedings to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading the false story.

High-Level Coordination and International Oversight

“Our presence here is not accidental,” an SPAK official explained to ABC News Albania, underlining that BKH and SPAK, in partnership with the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), the OSCE, and the Financial Intelligence Agency, are working to ensure a fair, uncorrupted electoral process. This operation is seen by national and international observers alike as a critical test for Albania’s democratic institutions (Balkan Insight, 2025).

Zero Tolerance for Election Code Violations

Authorities have made it clear that any breach of the electoral code—including the misuse of public resources, abuse of office, organized crime activity, illicit financing, or vote-buying—will be met with immediate investigation and possible criminal prosecution. SPAK emphasized that any candidate caught violating election laws risks losing their mandate.

Media Under Scrutiny for Spreading Panic

For the first time, Albania’s media landscape is also subject to heightened monitoring. Sources within BKH revealed to ABC News Albania (2025) that several online news portals are under investigation for publishing false reports intended to incite panic and increase electoral tensions. The Librazhd incident has already triggered criminal investigations against those suspected of orchestrating this targeted disinformation.

Safeguarding the May 11 Vote

This sweeping, inter-agency operation—combining law enforcement, prosecutors, intelligence services, and international observers—underscores Albania’s determination to protect the integrity of the May 11 parliamentary elections and ensure that the country’s democratic process is not undermined by criminal or political subversion.

Quellen, eingearbeitet im Fließtext:

• Balkan Insight (2025): Kontext und Einordnung der Maßnahmen
• ABC News Albania (2025): Details zu den Behördenmeetings, Zitaten und zur Falschmeldung
• Lokale Beobachtungen und Behördenangaben in Elbasan und Librazhd