Former Minister Genc Ruli testified at the GJKKO regarding the ongoing investigations into the privatization of the former sports club "Partizani". During questioning by prosecutors, Ruli explained the role of the institution he headed in 2005, the relationship with the Ministry of Defense and the meetings held in his office with interested parties.

Ruli stated that in 2005, the Ministry of Economy had a supervisory and preparatory role in the privatization process. He emphasized that the Democratic Party's governing program at that time had as its primary goal the protection of the interests of former owners, by giving them the right of pre-emption for state properties.

The former minister admitted that he was aware that the building was private property and indicated that he had waited in his office to hear the parties. Among other things, he also revealed the conversation he had with the club's former director, Albert Xhani.

"I have told Albert Xhani twice that this process will go in favor of the owners. As I have told him, even those of you who want to take it, will ultimately have to give it for construction. I have met these people in the office. I have only had correspondence with the Minister of Defense," declared Ruli, adding that initially he had not heard any specific names, but only the name of the Partizani sports club.

According to Ruli's testimony, in October 2005 he had sent a letter to line ministers to make an inventory of state properties and to see if there were any claims from former owners. He noted that former Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu had been among the first to respond about properties that were outside the army expansion plan.

Asked by SPAK about the delays in returning responses (where prosecutors found that the Ministry of Defense's request was made in November 2005 and the Economy's response was sent in 2007), Ruli defended himself with the difficulties of the administration at that time.

"In our time, legislation could not be improved within two years. The administration was also not like that. I responded very quickly, within 7-8 months," he explained.

Ruli also testified that he had learned, based on documents, that the Municipality of Tirana had also changed the destination of that property.

He acknowledged that cooperation between various state agencies was difficult and that privatization took a long time due to the numerous institutions involved. To speed up the procedures, he recalled that he had proposed to the Ministry of Economy to assign specific employees to these institutions.