Funding of the Flamingo protest organisers and the 'Soros' accusations against them
Status: Open research. No OSF/OSFA grant to a named protest organiser found. Party-finance records checked only through the Open Spending Albania register; CEC annual reports not yet opened.
Summary
Named organisers of the 2026 Flamingo movement are spread across an informal protest network, with Lëvizja Bashkë and Shqipëria Bëhet as the two registered political vehicles of named leaders. For the organisers read here, the sources reviewed show Albanian state party-support payments (for Lëvizja Bashkë) and no documented grant, fellowship, board seat or employment linked to OSF or OSFA.
Accusations that protest leaders are 'sorosianë' or paid by Soros come from political opponents and from the government side (Shehaj on Lapaj, 2025; a 2018 accusation against Qori as recorded on Wikipedia; a Rama remark about being called 'Soros's man' on 9 June 2026, reported in a search summary). None of these was supported by a cited payment, contract or grant record in the sources read.
The only documented Soros-family link in this slice is a public relationship between Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj and Alex Soros, described by the Libertarian Institute (an opinion-leaning source). That article does not tie any Soros-linked body to the protests.
Key facts
- Lëvizja Bashkë received 11,038,365 lekë in state party-support transfers in the Open Spending Albania register, between 30 Dec 2025 and 28 Jul 2026 (3 payments).
- The register lists the Central Election Commission as payer for 2,307,418 lekë (31 Dec 2025) and 2,400,000 lekë (29 Jul 2026).
- Adriatik Lapaj's 'dirty money' accusation by Agron Shehaj (5 Feb 2025) names no sum, company or donor.
- Wikipedia reports a 2018 'paid by Soros' accusation against Arlind Qori with no evidence and no reply recorded.
- Non Sprecare (21 Jul 2026) names Eljan Tanini and Adriatik Lapaj as leaders but says the movement had no single leader and names no funder.
- Valigiablu (22 Jun 2026) reports three declared initiators (Alben Kola, Luciana Kokaj, Arilida Lleshi) who denied a single leader and says the article does not address who funds the organisers.
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 (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Lëvizja Bashkë received state party-support transfers from the CEC and the Treasury, recorded in the Open Spending Albania register.
- Non Sprecare and Valigiablu name the protest leaders listed in the persons array, with the roles stated there.
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat any named organiser is 'sorosianë' or is paid by Soros or OSF. Not supported by a cited document in the sources read.
- AllegationThat the protest is designed to take control of the state. Recorded as a hypothesis only.
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.
- AllegationAgron Shehaj (Mundësia) says Adriatik Lapaj is 'financed' from dirty money and is part of the system (Shqiptarja, 5 Feb 2025). Clearly attributed to Shehaj; no evidence cited.
- AllegationOpponents accused Arlind Qori of being 'paid by Soros' during the December 2018 student protests (Wikipedia; no source given).
Open questions (5)
- Lëvizja Bashkë annual financial reports and donor declarations at the CEC (fpp.kqz.gov.al). Not yet opened.
- Whether Shqipëria Bëhet has any donor or grant record. Not found.
- OSFA grant database entries for Organizata Politike, Lëvizja Bashkë, Shqipëria Bëhet, or any named organiser. Not yet searched in the OSF grants database.
- The actual source of the 9 June 2026 'Soros's man' remark by Rama. Only a search summary was seen.
- Whether the 2018 'paid by Soros' claim against Qori has a primary source.
Responses (4)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Shehaj says he is not financed by dirty money (Shqiptarja, 5 Feb 2025).
- Qori called claims of organisation by radical groups unfounded in 2018 (Balkanweb summary of a DW analysis, search result).
- Organisers (Kola, Kokaj, Lleshi) deny a single leader behind the protest (Valigiablu, 22 Jun 2026).
- Rama calls the movement part of a 'hybrid war' (Euronews, 20 Oct 2026, as listed in.
Figures
Money trail →Lëvizja Bashkë: state party-support transfer (CEC), Dec 2025
2,307,418 lek
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Open Spending Albania register, 'Transferta per partite politike'. Registered 30 Dec 2025, paid 31 Dec 2025. Domestic public funding, not foreign money. Figure as published in the register.
Date: 31 Dec 2025 · Payer: Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve (CEC) · Payee: Lëvizja Bashkë
- Partia Levizja BASHKE (Open Spending Albania) (opens in a new tab)Open Spending Albania (State Treasury data) · 29 Jul 2026 · official · EN
Lëvizja Bashkë: transfer recorded on 17 Apr 2026 (paying institution listed as Lëvizja Bashkë)
6,330,947 lek
paymentSource label: Under investigationStated definition: Listed in the register as paid by 'Lëvizja Bashkë' itself, with reference to a ministry letter dated 7 Apr 2026 (per search summary). This labelling looks inconsistent with the other two CEC payments and is not interpreted here; the CEC annual financial report should be checked to confirm the source.
Date: 17 Apr 2026 · Payer: Lëvizja Bashkë (as listed in register; unclear) · Payee: Lëvizja Bashkë
- Partia Levizja BASHKE (Open Spending Albania) (opens in a new tab)Open Spending Albania (State Treasury data) · 29 Jul 2026 · official · EN
Lëvizja Bashkë: state party-support transfer (CEC), Jul 2026
2,400,000 lek
paymentSource label: Officially reportedStated definition: Open Spending Albania register, 'Transferta per partite politike'. Registered 28 Jul 2026, paid 29 Jul 2026. Domestic public funding, not foreign money.
Date: 29 Jul 2026 · Payer: Komisioni Qendror i Zgjedhjeve (CEC) · Payee: Lëvizja Bashkë
- Partia Levizja BASHKE (Open Spending Albania) (opens in a new tab)Open Spending Albania (State Treasury data) · 29 Jul 2026 · official · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Media
'Albanian-American Movement against the Sorosian Oligarchy' founded (exit.al, published 11 Dec 2016)
exit.al reports a group of civil-society activists founding a movement against the 'Sorosian oligarchy', whose first action was a lawsuit against Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj over kiosk concessions. The article names no founders and does not give the movement's funding. None of the named protest organisers of 2026 is mentioned. Shows that 'Soros' rhetoric in Albanian politics predates the 2026 protests.
Protest
December 2018 student protests: Arlind Qori among the most engaged; opponents accuse him of being 'paid by Soros' (month only)
Wikipedia records that Qori took part in the December 2018 student protests in Tirana, and that for several months political opponents accused him of being 'paid by Soros'. No evidence for the accusation is given. In a Balkanweb summary of a DW analysis, Qori said the students' main demand was the prime minister's resignation and called claims of radical-group organisation unfounded.
Other
Lëvizja Bashkë founded by former Organizata Politike activists; Arlind Qori elected chairman
Wikipedia records the founding of Lëvizja Bashkë on 18 Dec 2022 by members and activists of Organizata Politike, with Qori elected chairman under a one-year mandate.
Other
Adriatik Lapaj founds the movement Shqipëria Bëhet
Wikipedia (infobox) gives 18 September 2023 as the date Lapaj assumed office as leader of Shqipëria Bëhet, founded in September 2023. The party registration in October 2024 is also recorded there.
Media
Agron Shehaj says Adriatik Lapaj is 'financed' from dirty money
In a public exchange reported by Shqiptarja, Shehaj accused Lapaj of being financed from dirty money and of being aligned with Rama ('Të fala Ramës'). No sum, company or donor was named and no evidence was cited. Lapaj had earlier said Shehaj could not be compared to him.
Parliament
Lëvizja Bashkë wins one of 140 seats in the parliamentary election
Wikipedia (Arlind Qori and Lëvizja Bashkë pages) reports that Lëvizja Bashkë won one seat in the 11 May 2025 election, held by Redi Muçi.
Government
Eljan Tanini appointed Director of the Albanian National Film Archive
The Film Archive's website states that visual artist Eljan Tanini was appointed Director on 10 July 2025, and is also a journalist and moderator on Report TV. The page is a biographical profile, not a decree.
Government
Rama reportedly says one side calls him 'Soros's man' and another 'Kushner's man'
A search-result headline (article not opened, URL not identified) reports Rama saying he is called Soros's man on one side and Kushner's on the other. The wider context is not known from the sources read.
Protest
Dritan Goxhaj reads the five demands outside the Prime Minister's Office; Valigiablu names three declared initiators
Shqiptarja and Telegrafi (search summaries) report Goxhaj reading the protest's five demands, including the Prime Minister's resignation and a 12-month technical caretaker government. Valigiablu (same day) names Alben Kola, Luciana Kokaj and Arilida Lleshi as declared initiators who denied a single leader and said the permits were in their names. Valigiablu also names Edviol Kullur as speaking for the coordinating group.
Media
Non Sprecare names Tanini and Lapaj as leaders; says the movement had no single leader
Non Sprecare (dated 21 Jul 2026) names Eljan Tanini as one of the initiators of the first environmental mobilisations and a protest leader, and Adriatik Lapaj as leader of Shqipëria Bëhet. It says environmental groups, civic associations and local collectives played organisational roles without naming them, and mentions no funding, party or donor link for any named person.
Other
Lëvizja Bashkë receives a 2.4 million lek state party-support transfer from the CEC
Open Spending Albania (State Treasury data) records a transfer of 2,400,000 lekë to Lëvizja Bashkë, paid by the Central Election Commission on 29 Jul 2026. It is one of three transfers in the register totalling 11,038,365 lekë since December 2025.
Government
Rama blames a 'hybrid war' for unrest across Albania
Euronews (20 Oct 2026, as listed in reports Rama blaming a hybrid war for the unrest. The Libertarian Institute article says the government circulated a Blackbird.AI report, which it cites without describing. No source read identifies a foreign funder of any named organiser.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 12 sources.
Source label: VerifiedVerified · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- 2026
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- 2026
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Open Spending Albania (State Treasury data)
- Date
- 29 Jul 2026
- Publisher
- Albanian National Film Archive (AQSHF)
- Date
- 10 Jul 2025
- Publisher
- Euronews
- Date
- 20 Oct 2026
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 6 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja.com
- Date
- 5 Feb 2025
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 11 Dec 2016
- Publisher
- Valigiablu
- Date
- 22 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- Telegrafi
- Date
- 22 Jun 2026
- Publisher
- Non Sprecare
- Date
- 21 Jul 2026
- Publisher
- The Libertarian Institute (author Patrick Pillow, described as an independent researcher)
- Date
- 2026
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Wikipedia
- Date
- 2026