Organized Crime and Coruption Project

Developments in Albania and Kosovo

One week after a former deputy prime minister of Albania was acquitted of corruption charges, human rights watchers and citizens are expressing their discontent about the verdict.

An investigation has finally begun into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four Albanians in peaceful demonstrations last year outside Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s office. Three government officials have been arrested in connection with the deaths, including the head of Albania’s Republican Guard.

Albania has agreed to sign an agreement with the European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) to comply with investigations into organ trafficking. Berisha said he agreed with chief investigator John Clint Williamson to “institutionalize cooperation between the two authorities.” Williamson is in charge of determining whether or not members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) harvested the organs of Serb prisoners during the 1999 war in Kosovo.

A Canadian man who received an organ transplant in Kosovo will be a key witness in the trial against seven men, including a Turkish doctor and an Israeli citizen for organ trafficking. The Canadian, Raul Fain, paid US$127,000 to buy a kidney from Pristina’s Medicus Clinic, which is at the center of the investigation.

On the eve of Kosovo’s fourth anniversary as an independent state, 62 government officials have been fined by the state anti-corruption agency for failing to declare assets.

Four years after the largest ever European Union Police Mission was dispatched, not a single Kosovan has been indicted for organized crime, raising concern in Brussels and elsewhere, writes the EU Observer.

The Albanian Supreme Court acquitted former Prime Minister Ilir Meta of charges that he attempted to improperly influence an economy minister over the sale of a hydropower plant.  A former Mafioso told a South African paper that Narco Boss Darko Saric is hiding in South Africa.  And Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov denied allegations that Prime Minister Boyko Borisov played football with Russian mafia don Konstantin Tsiganov, who is sought by Interpol.

Montenegro Parliamentarian to Investigate Corrupt Telekom Privatization

Andrija Mandic, chairman of his parliament’s committee for monitoring privatization has been asking US and German officials for help determining what went wrong when Montenegro sold its state telecommunications agency to companies in Hungary and Germany.

Mandic held a meeting with parliamentarians and stakeholders in the capital city Podgorica Friday to learn more after two companies, Hungarian Magyar Telekom and its parent company Deutsche Telekom paid US$95 million to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Dec. 29, in a settlement acknowledging that they engaged in corrupt practices in Montenegro and another former Yugoslav country, Macedonia.

Because Magyar Telekom is traded on the US stock market, American authorities prosecuted  under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Mandic is critical of Montenegrin courts:  “The work of the domestic judiciary is catastrophic and it is questionable whether [any charges will be filed] in Montenegro,” he told the SETimes. “No one from the ruling structure has said anything since this scandal emerged.”

A Russian journalist who spent his career uncovering corruption was murdered on Thursday, a day devoted to honoring the country’s slain reporters.  He was shot 14 times late in the night as he was leaving his office.

Hadzhimurad Kamalov founded Chernovik, a newspaper in the restive Russian province of Dagestan in the north Caucasus that was known for its independent coverage of government affairs, including corruption rampant in the region.

Kamalov also served as executive director for Svoboda Slova, a foundation advocating for independent press.

Human rights groups have linked his murder to his work

“This disgusting crime was committed exactly at the end of the Memorial Day, when journalist organizations all over Russia gave tribute to colleagues who perished due to their work in the last 20 years,” said Galina Sidorova, chair of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in Russia and vice-chair of the executive board of the International Press Institute (IPI).

She stressed that the situation for journalists committed to exposing corruption is dangerous.

VALERIE HOPKINS
Following a guilty verdict on Wednesday, Russia announced its intention to seek the return of convicted arms smuggler Viktor Bout to his motherland.

It’s not likely Bout will be sent home, but many Russians think he will be in a good company if he were.  The perception of organized crime and corruption’s involvement in daily life continues to rise.  Indeed, it may be a major factor in the projected $70 billion in capital flight this year, double last year’s rate, because investors are uncertain not only about the unstable economy but about losing out to graft.  The estimated flight is worth five percent of Russia’s GDP.

But the announcement this week that Russia is getting closer to membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) after a compromise with Georgia may be good news for corruption fighters.  Sergei Guriev, head of the New Economic School in Moscow, told the Economist that “it would at least expose corruption and increase competition, deeply alien to Russia’s ruling bureaucracy. …  It will be a sign that Russia is moving towards the civilized world,” he says, “not away from it.”

Earlier we reported Russian businesses are the most likely to bribe other governments and companies in exchange for lucrative contracts, according to a Transparency International.

Because Invitations Don’t Always Come With Disclaimers

Stars have long depended on coteries of advisers to tell them how to act, what to wear, and where to eat.  But a new consulting service can help prevent the gaffes they endure after being seen in the presence of international political and military despots, tyrants and business tycoons with murky ties.  Actors Jean Claude Van Damme and Hillary Swank had to apologize last week after pictures surfaced of them at the opulent birthday party of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.  Swank was allegedly remunerated in the six figures for her attendance, while Van Damme is reported to have professed his love for the Chechen leader: “I love you, Mr. Kadyrov.”

Many of Kadyrov’s constituents don’t share those amorous sentiments, as the 35-year-old leader of the impoverished republic has reportedly amassed fortunes through his ties to organized crime.

Now, NYT MediaDecoder has announced, stars can submit invitations from potentially corrupt politicians or organized crime figures to a free service that will advise them on whether allegations of egregious human rights violations should make them think twice about attending an event.

The consulting service is provided by long-time celebrity adviser Global Philanthropy Group in partnership with Human Rights Watch. It could prevent the scandals that arose when it came out that diva musicians Beyonce and Mariah Carey, hip hop artists Jay-Z and Usher, and even American singer Lionel Ritchie were paid over $1 million each to perform at parties for relatives of Libya’s former leader Muamer Gaddafi.  Afterwards, the performers scrambled to donate the proceeds to approved philanthropic causes.

Are you a star who has trouble doing a google search on a potential party thrower?  Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   Maybe Elton John should check out his Ukrainian friends more closely.