Claims that Soros controls SPAK, the justice reform, Rama or the media
Status: Claims continue. No official finding.
Summary
Since at least 2016 Berisha has said that Soros and Open Society shaped or corrupted Albanian institutions, including the justice reform, SPAK, the media, and Rama's government. He has called Rama a 'Soros puppet' and has said the foundation prepared a secret 2013 document that foresaw constitutional, justice and electoral reform. The document was not shown. In 2025 Berisha called SPAK a criminal organisation and promised to dissolve it. Rama and Socialist figures say SPAK is protected by the Socialist Party and deny Soros control. Some commentators argue the Veliaj case, which hit a Socialist mayor, shows SPAK is not directed by Soros. The documented facts are limited: Open Society has funded civil society in Albania, including a survey mentioned in 2016, and Soros visited Albania in 2005. No court or official finding shows Soros controlled any Albanian institution.
Key facts
- Berisha called Soros a 'great threat to Albania's democracy' around February 2016 (Tirana Times; the article is undated in its header but dated to about 2016).
- Fleckenstein told Berisha to stop the 'Soros fairytales' and said he should not repeat them.
- An Open Society-sponsored survey on Albania was mentioned in 2016 coverage.
- Soros visited Albania in 2005 for a Roma integration programme and met then-PM Berisha and then-Tirana mayor Rama (Tirana Times background; search summary).
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.
- Open Society Foundations has funded programmes in Albania (OSF Albania fact sheet, 2018).
- Open Society sponsored a survey on Albania, mentioned in 2016 coverage (Tirana Times).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat Soros or Open Society directs SPAK, the justice reform, the media or Rama's policy (Berisha; some conservative US outlets). No evidence found.
- AllegationThat Soros is Rama's ally or funder (Berisha; Rama does not deny a friendship with Alex Soros according to one summary). Not established.
Allegations and who made them (4)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationBerisha: Soros corrupted several Albanian institutions and the foundation helped entrench Rama's power (Tirana Times, 2016; Daily Signal summary, undated).
- AllegationBerisha: Open Society prepared a secret 2013 document that foresaw justice, constitutional and electoral reform aimed at consolidating Rama's government (Shqiptarja summary, undated). Document not seen.
- AllegationBerisha: SPAK is a criminal organisation and a shield for the government; he would dissolve it if returned to power (Telegrafi and A2 CNN, 2025).
- AllegationBerisha: Soros-linked influence drove the justice reform that created SPAK (search summary, 2025). Claim.
Open questions (4)
- Is the 2013 'secret document' real? Berisha has not published it in the sources read.
- What did Open Society fund in Albania between 1992 and 2026, and who received it? A full list was not found.
- What evidence supports the claim that SPAK is controlled by Soros? None found in the sources read.
- Did Soros or Open Society ever have a formal role in the justice reform (for example as adviser or funder of the reform process)? Not checked.
Responses (3)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Rama: 'not normal to believe' that Soros carried out the justice reform (March 2025, summary); only the Socialist Party can defend SPAK (A2 CNN, 2025).
- Fleckenstein: stop the 'Soros fairytales' (Tirana Times, about 2016).
- Open Society: did not respond to requests for comment (Daily Signal; Tirana Times summaries).
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
Open Society Foundation Albania begins work (reported as 1992)
Open Society's Albanian foundation is widely reported to have been founded in 1992 to support democratisation. The exact founding date was not confirmed. Berisha was president from 1992. He has said he welcomed Soros's first visit to Albania in 1992 because NGOs were important in other former communist countries. Whether his government supported or obstructed OSFA between 1992 and 1997 was not found in the sources read.
Government
Soros visits Albania (Roma programme); meets Berisha and Rama
Soros visited Albania in 2005 about a Roma integration programme. He met then-Prime Minister Berisha and then-Tirana mayor Edi Rama. The exact date was not confirmed. Shqiptarja is cited in a search summary for a January 2008 Davos meeting in which the government called Soros a friend of Albania; that source was not retrieved and is not relied on here.
Other
Berisha calls Soros a 'great threat'; Fleckenstein responds with 'Soros fairytales'
Berisha said Soros was a 'great threat to Albania's democracy', said he had corrupted several Albanian institutions, and urged the European Parliament to investigate. He also called Rama a 'Soros puppet'. Fleckenstein, the European Parliament rapporteur, told Berisha to stop the 'Soros fairytales'. The exact day is inferred from the article's dateline ('Feb. 23'); the year is inferred from the page's '10 years ago' label. Confirm the date from the original page.
Court
Vetting commission reports 268 judges and prosecutors dismissed
The Independent Qualification Commission (KPK) completed vetting of judges and prosecutors and announced that 268 had been dismissed from office. It had issued 805 decisions, 373 of them confirmations. This is the most recent consolidated figure found. It is not linked to Soros in any source; it is included as context for the justice reform that Berisha says was Soros-shaped.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 7 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Tirana Times
- Date
- 23 Feb 2016
- Publisher
- Albanian Institute / AMAN (news summary)
- Date
- 24 Nov 2024
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Open Society Foundations
- Date
- 21 Feb 2018
- Publisher
- Daily Signal
- Date
- 9 May 2025
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 3 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- UNDATED
- Publisher
- A2 CNN
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 2025