A question is circulating in the tax administration that no one is daring to publicly clarify: Why did the director of debt collection for large taxpayers leave her post immediately after unblocking the accounts of "Birra Korça"?
According to sources within the administration, the conflict began after the order to freeze the accounts of the historic company "Birra Korça", one of the most important manufacturing businesses in the southeast and among the largest contributors to the economy and taxes.
The allegations are that the company had no consolidated liabilities that justified extreme blocking measures. Sources close to the tax authorities claim that director Brunilda refused to proceed with actions that were not based on clear legal procedures and demanded that every order be given in writing. In an internal meeting, according to these sources, she expressed concern that she could not be held personally responsible for verbal orders that could put her in front of the law.
The question being asked is simple:
Was she fired because she chose the law over verbal orders?
If a company has tax obligations, the law provides for clear procedures, notification, payment deadlines, agreements, warnings and only then coercive measures. But according to the allegations raised, in the case of “Birra Korça” an attempt was made to immediately freeze accounts and stop activity, endangering production, workers' salaries and the economic chain of a historic factory.
Another question that needs an answer is: Who benefits from blocking a company that pays millions in taxes and keeps hundreds of families employed?
Instead of the state guaranteeing economic stability and a climate of security for investors, the case raises suspicions about the use of the tax administration as an instrument of pressure. More worrying is the fact that the manager who unblocked the accounts left office within a very short time.
Was this a "Follow the order or leave" message to the administration?
Ilir Binaj was previously known as a business professional and expert in company financial balance sheets. This is precisely why many are surprised today by the approach being taken towards a company with history, investments, and economic influence like "Birra Korça".
If the company had obligations, why weren't the normal procedures of warning and negotiation followed?
Why was an immediate lockdown required?
Why did the manager who refused to act without a written basis leave?
And above all, who is responsible if it turns out that the decisions were illegal?
A tax administration should not operate on verbal orders, personal interests or hidden pressures. The law cannot be applied according to the mood of the leaders nor used to scare away business.
Because when a historic factory is hit without transparency, the message doesn't just go to one company. The message goes to every investor who is thinking of investing in Albania.
Every leader who today thinks he can use taxes as a weapon of pressure should remember a simple fact: Power is temporary, while legal responsibility remains. Mr. Binaj with his clientelistic appointments, arbitrary commands and illegal verbal orders may be temporarily silenced by fear within the administration, but not forever. One day, responsibility will be sought for every decision that has harmed business, employees and the public interest.
