Defamation suits between Shkëlzen Berisha and Taulant Balla (2013 and 2026)
Status: 24 Jul 2026: partially accepted per BalkanWeb. Other rulings conflicting or unknown. Appeals not found.
Summary
Shkëlzen Berisha, son of former PM Sali Berisha, has filed defamation suits against Balla. Search snippets give conflicting accounts of an earlier (2013) proceeding: one says Judge Ardiana Bera dismissed Shkëlzen's suit; another says a different Tirana judge (Ridvan Hado) partially accepted a suit and fined Balla 2,000,000 lek and ordered retraction of statements dated 26 July 2012 and 19 December 2012. A later suit (filed 2020, per an English-language summary) seeks retraction and 25,000 euro. On 24 July 2026 BalkanWeb reported that a court partially accepted Shkëlzen Berisha's suit against Balla for slander, without details of the claims upheld or any damages.
Key facts
- 24 Jul 2026 (BalkanWeb, fetched): 'The court has partially accepted the suit filed by Shkëlzen Berisha against Taulant Balla for slander.' (translated from 'Gjykata ka pranuar pjesërisht padinë e ngritur nga Shkëlzen Berisha ndaj Taulant Ballës për shpifje.') No damages or specific statements given.
- 2013 rulings reported in conflicting ways (search snippets, unverified; judges Ardiana Bera and Ridvan Hado named).
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.
- The court partly accepted the July 2026 suit (BalkanWeb, 24 Jul 2026).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationBalla's public statements about Shkëlzen Berisha are alleged to be slanderous (as reported).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationShkëlzen Berisha alleges that Balla's public statements about him amounted to slander (as reported). The BalkanWeb article does not specify the statements.
Open questions (3)
- Which statements were held defamatory in the July 2026 ruling, and what damages were set?
- Is there an appeal?
- Reconcile the conflicting 2013 accounts (dismissal by Bera vs fine by Hado) from court records.
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No reply by Balla to the 24 Jul 2026 ruling is reported in the BalkanWeb article.
Figures
Money trail →Reported fine on Balla in a Shkëlzen Berisha suit (one 2013 account)
2,000,000 lek
otherSource label: UnverifiedStated definition: Figure from a search snippet attributing it to judge Ridvan Hado; conflicts with another snippet saying the suit was dismissed by judge Ardiana Bera. Not verified.
Date: unknown · Payer: Taulant Balla · Payee: Shkëlzen Berisha
- Shqiptarja: Shkëlzen Berisha - Balla, search result (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · unknown · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →Court
Court partially accepts Shkëlzen Berisha's slander suit against Balla
BalkanWeb (24 Jul 2026, 11:57) reports that the court partially accepted the suit. The article does not name the court, the statements at issue, any damages or whether an appeal was filed. No reply by Balla is reported.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 2 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 1 source
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb
- Date
- 24 Jul 2026
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- unknown