‘No One’s Above the Law’: Albania’s Anti-Graft Prosecutor Leaves Formidable Legacy

When Altin Dumani took office as Albania’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor in late 2022, many wondered whether he would have the courage to take on the deep-rooted graft and organised crime that have plagued Albania for decades. Now that Dumani is leaving, Albanians are left pondering whether his successor will reach the standards he set. In his three years at the helm of Albania’s Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime, or SPAK, Dumani, 50, has helped restore public trust in the judiciary by holding some of the highest public officials to account – from the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, former Albanian president and PM Sali Berisha, to Tirana mayor and close ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama, Erion Veliaj. Dumani’s doggedness has won him enemies in both main political camps. But he has studiously avoided engaging in any public slanging match, giving only one television interview in his entire time in office. With his mandate set to end in December, anticipation is building over who will take over. Political analyst Lutfi Dervishi said Dumani will leave behind a formidable legacy. “For years, it was an unwritten law in Albania: justice was a sword that cut everyone, except the highest levels of power,” he said. That changed, he said, “when Altin Dumani came to the head of SPAK.” Please login to your account below if you are already a Premium Subscriber. Our Premium Service gives you full access to all content published on BalkanInsight.com, including analyses, investigations, comments, interviews and more. Choose your subscription today and get unparalleled in-depth coverage of the Southern and Eastern Europe. If you have trouble logging in or any other questions regarding you account, please contact us