Electiongate: Durres vote buying with the Avdylaj gang (File 339)
Status: Eleven low-ranking commissioners convicted. No senior official convicted in the sources reviewed.
Summary
Leaked prosecution wiretaps, published by Bild in June 2019, include conversations between Durres Mayor Vangjush Dako and leaders of the Avdylaj gang about votes in the 2017 parliamentary elections. One recording describes pressure to place a candidate (Ilir Ndraxhi, later an MP) on the Socialist list. Another mentions paying for votes in slang ('a coffee').
A Durres court convicted eleven polling commissioners of electoral crimes for the 2017 elections in File 339. No senior official was convicted. Transparency International's case summary says Dako was not charged. The General Prosecutor's Office maintained its position. Opposition outlets call this proof of a systematic scheme. Other commentators say the scale and effect on the vote are not established.
Key facts
- Wiretaps published by Bild (June 2019), six recordings in the first release (per exit.al).
- Eleven polling commissioners convicted by the Durres court for 2017 electoral crimes (File 339).
- Price for a vote reported at about 200 lek (EUR 1.4) in Durres (Top Channel).
- Dako denied the allegations (Transparency International, exit.al).
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.
- Eleven low-ranking commissioners convicted of electoral crimes in 2017 (court decision as reported).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationDako's knowing involvement in vote buying with the gang.
- AllegationThat the scheme changed the 2017 result.
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.
- AllegationDurres Mayor Dako and the Avdylaj gang arranged vote buying for the 2017 elections (leaked recordings, opposition claims).
- AllegationGang leaders pressed for specific candidates on the list (recordings as reported).
Open questions (3)
- Why was Dako not charged?
- Was there a link between the Avdylaj gang and any MP who was elected?
- What do the full recordings show?
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Dako: his contacts with the gang were normal election work (exit.al, Top Channel summaries).
Figures
Money trail →Reported price of one vote in Durres (2017 elections)
€1.4
200 lek
paymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Figure from Top Channel reporting on the wiretap context; not a court finding.
Date: 2017 · Payer: unknown · Payee: voters (as alleged)
- Durres vote costs 200 ALL (1.4 Euro) (opens in a new tab)Top Channel · unknown · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Media
Bild publishes Electiongate wiretaps (Durres, 2017 elections)
Bild published six recordings from the prosecution file: Durres mayor Dako and the Avdylaj gang discussing votes in the 2017 elections. The leak triggered the File 339 prosecutions.
Court
Durres court convicts eleven polling commissioners (File 339, 2017 elections)
The Durres court convicted eleven commissioners of electoral crimes for the 2017 elections (File 339). The convictions are for low-ranking officials. The exact date is not given in the source.
Connections
Recorded talking to Avdylaj gang about votes
Evidence: Bild-published wiretaps (June 2019); Dako not charged (TI).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 6 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 3 sources
- Publisher
- exit.al
- Date
- Jun 2019
- Publisher
- exit.al
- Date
- unknown
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- Jun 2019
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- unknown
Source label: DisputedDisputed · 2 sources
- Publisher
- exit.al
- Date
- Jun 2019
- Publisher
- Transparency International (CEPI)
- Date
- unknown