Journalist Klodiana Lala commented on News24 the accusations of former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, who recently published an audio recording mentioning American-Israeli citizen Ron Yeffet and raising allegations of suspected arms trafficking activity in Albania.
Invited to the show "Minuta e Parë", with moderator Ola Bruko, Lala stated that the publication of the audio recordings raises serious questions that, according to her, should be investigated by SPAK.
Referring also to the events that followed the forced removal of the staff of News24, BalkanWeb and Panorama from the work premises, the journalist said that there are already strong suspicions that the Kayo company may have had a double activity, linking it to the accusations made by Ahmetaj.
According to Lala, the published audio recordings cast doubt on a possible arms trafficking scheme, where weapons that would be obtained in Africa and Sudan would allegedly be brought to Albania to be assembled and packaged and then sent to European Union countries or Ukraine.
She requested that SPAK investigate not only the allegations of arms trafficking, but also the possible involvement of senior Albanian officials, if these allegations are proven. Lala emphasized that the audio materials in question contain hours of wiretapping, not just three episodes. For this reason, she requested that SPAK obtain the full materials and verify the identities of the persons mentioned in them, as well as their entries and activities in Albanian territory.
The journalist also requested that the Special Prosecution Office address foreign authorities through letters of request, with the aim of obtaining and verifying the complete wiretapping materials.
Another point raised by her is related to the incident of the removal of News24 from the work premises. Lala said that SPAK should also investigate the circumstances of the seizure of the television's premises and working tools, linking this issue to the new accusations made by Ahmetaj. In conclusion, Lala said that News24 has sent an official letter to SPAK, requesting to know whether a criminal investigation will be launched regarding the complaints made by Arben Ahmetaj.
"We have raised doubts as News24, when the army forces forcibly evicted us. Everyone knows how we left the building, how News24, BalkanWeb, Panorama. We were not allowed to go to our workplaces. We were not allowed to take our work tools, even today some of those things are there. Today it is clear, after the accusations made by Ahmetaj, that Kayo is a company that had two goals: to exercise illegal activity and to silence News24, a TV that has denounced corruption affairs over the years. When you see Ahmetaj's accusations, you see that Kayo's intention was not to produce weapons, but if you look carefully at the data that Ahmetaj released, which I wish he had released earlier, but it's never too late. Ahmetaj has spoken before, but this is the first time that a TV station has provided evidence and facts showing Ron Yeffet, who, according to Ahmetaj, dates back to
When we turned to SPAK, how News24, did not refer to our report. In this case, brutality was shown. There are strong suspicions that arms trafficking is taking place. What does Mr. Ahmetaj say, where he shows the audio recording of Yeffet and Ukrainian citizens, where it is said that weapons would be taken in Africa, in Sudan, brought to Albania, assembled and packaged here and would go towards an EU country or Ukraine.
News24 criticized when Ahmetaj did not do his duty, but in this case he produced evidence. Mr. Braho should launch an investigation mainly for this accusation, for arms trafficking. The implication of senior Albanian officials should be investigated. In Ahmetaj's denunciation, a citizen 'Ermal Raketa' is mentioned, where in the next interception Ron Yeffet mentions Ermal Nufi. But before going to Ermal Nufi, SPAK should investigate the case of the deportation of News24. Address the EU with a letter of request to receive these interceptions. It is not about 3 episodes, but about hours of interception, where there may be other officials involved and other corruption affairs. Ahmetaj's denunciation will be valid for arms trafficking and the implication of high officials.
The working environment of News24 were taken by force, to come to the day we are today. Today Mr. Ahmetaj, from the escape, we will report and his judicial process, helped us to understand how the Albanian state is functioning, as a mafia, criminal organization. What should happen in this case? A full investigation. Ahmetaj is on the run and I would like the denunciations to be made today, so this is an invitation for other socialists as well. I would like him to denounce when he was part of the plot.
These audio recordings are complete. These audio recordings have seriously wounded Rama, even more than the protest that is today the 101st in a row. An investigation must be launched into public records. It will have to go to TV Syri, get the audio recordings and then start questioning all the people. Did they enter Albanian territory, when is the date of citizen Yeffet's entry into our country? News24 "has sent an official letter to SPAK today, to announce whether a criminal investigation will be conducted into Ahmetaj's denunciations," said Lala.
