Arben Ahmetaj: incinerator probe, Swiss extradition request and 2026 status
Status: Internationally wanted (since July 2023). Extradition request to Switzerland reported by the Ministry of Justice (Nov 2025); Swiss response not found. Trial in absentia in the Buka case (2025-2026). Ahmetaj denies the charges and calls them political.
Summary
Arben Ahmetaj, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, has been internationally wanted since July 2023 in the incinerator-related probe. SPAK charges him with hiding assets, passive corruption in six episodes and money laundering, and alleges he received property and money from businessmen in exchange for their involvement in the Elbasan and Fier incinerator activity (shteg.org, 17 Nov 2025). Parliament revoked his immunity on 14 July 2023 (IDEA). His assets were seized in July 2023 (Telegrafi headline: six properties; existing file: two bank accounts totalling 124,300 euro).
The Ministry of Justice filed an extradition request to Switzerland, announced at a Special Court session reported on 17 Nov 2025. Ahmetaj reacted on social media that reports of a Swiss extradition request were not true (Balkanweb, search summary). Earlier, unofficial 2023 reports placed him in Canada, England and Romania. Switzerland's response is not found in sources read.
Ahmetaj is being tried in absentia in the Buka privatisation case (abuse of office, alleged damage about 7 billion old lekë), accepted for trial in 2025 (A2, search summary). His lawyer says the Buka trial is separate from the international search. No 2026 development on the incinerator charges or the extradition request was found in sources read.
Key facts
- 14 July 2023: Parliament revoked his immunity after SPAK's request (IDEA Democracy Tracker).
- July 2023: SPAK seized properties and bank accounts (existing file: 124,300 euro in two accounts).
- 17 Nov 2025: Ministry of Justice extradition request to Switzerland reported (shteg.org).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Immunity revoked (14 July 2023). Ministry of Justice request to Switzerland reported (Nov 2025).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationPassive corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets in the incinerator probe (SPAK, not adjudicated).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationSPAK: Ahmetaj received property and money in six cases from businessmen in exchange for their involvement in the Elbasan and Fier incinerator activity (shteg.org, citing SPAK, 17 Nov 2025).
- AllegationSPAK file as headlined by Shqiptarja: Ahmetaj helped give the Elbasan incinerator to Stela Gugallja, intervened to change the concession law, and gave bonus points to Klodian Zoto and Mirel Mërtiri for the Fier incinerator (headline only, not opened).
Open questions (4)
- Whether Switzerland has responded to the extradition request; Ahmetaj denies that a request was made.
- Whether Ahmetaj is named in any incinerator trial. A Top Channel headline (search only), 'Elbasan incinerator case set to go trial, the SPAK prosecutors spare former-minister Ahmetaj', suggests he is not in the Elbasan trial.
- Whether political asylum was requested in Switzerland (A2, search only) and its status.
- A himara.gr piece says the arrest order was carried out in March 2023; this conflicts with the July 2023 immunity timeline and is not confirmed.
Responses (3)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Denies the charges and calls them political revenge (Transparency International CEPI page, existing file).
- Lawyer Henrik Ligori: 'no security measures' exist for his client in this case; asks that the case proceed without 'surprise acts' (shteg.org, 17 Nov 2025, paraphrase).
- Ahmetaj, from abroad: PM Rama seeks to influence prosecutors and judges and 'wants my head to hide the truth about the Tirana incinerator' (Telegrafi headline, search only).
Connections
Parliament revoked his immunity on 14 July 2023 after SPAK's request
Evidence: IDEA Democracy Tracker, July 2023 entry.
SPAK alleges he received property and money from businessmen in six cases tied to the Elbasan and Fier incinerators
Evidence: shteg.org, 17 Nov 2025, citing the SPAK charges as reported. Allegation only.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 5 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 5 sources
- Publisher
- SHTEG
- Date
- 17 Nov 2025
- Publisher
- International IDEA
- Date
- 14 Jul 2023
- Publisher
- Transparency International CEPI
- Date
- Aug 2023
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- not recorded
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- Jul 2023