This Wednesday, Ergys Agasi, one of the most talked about names of the last 2 years, was arrested. Bardhyl Agasi's son entered politics by holding the position of the Environmental Inspectorate for a short period of time. Then, he "officially" devoted himself to business.
Ergys Agasi is a controversial character who has been rumored for his direct ties to Prime Minister Edi Rama, while in the corridors of the administration he is known for his strong influence in several departments, especially the state police.
An explanation for this privileged relationship with Prime Minister Rama and the resulting benefits was given by former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, who called Ergys Agas "a mediator between criminal gangs and Prime Minister Edi Rama."
"Criminal groups receive tenders through their representatives. This is well known in Albania. They build, launder their construction money in Albania. They practically sell drugs all over Europe and then pass them on to Albania. There is actually coordination between mafia organizations. They don't kill each other.
"This is because Edi Rama has asked them not to cause him any trouble. Is Rama connected to these criminal groups? He is not only connected, but I will give you the name of the coordinator, Ergys Agasi. He is a guy who lives in Durrës, near the Durrës clan. Now he has become, on Rama's behalf, the coordinator of all the groups," Ahmetaj said for the "Report" show on Rai3.
Italian television reported that Ergys Agasi is a businessman from Durrës, among other things the owner of a company that produces cigarettes and deals with logistics. The media has often talked about his connections with members of criminal groups such as drug trafficker Xhevdet Troplini.
"Agas is the coordinator and then he uses them for the elections. Where does Rama meet them? He also meets them in his office, in the meeting office that he has at the government headquarters. I have not participated because I have never agreed to be involved. I have seen almost all of them. Characters from Dibra, Durres, Elbasan... Yes. Mafia bosses" - Ahmetaj said in his story for RAI3.
While in a later interview, Ahmetaj said that Rama had taken Agas with him to the Davos forum as well as during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.
"But why is this the Socialist Party? What does the Socialist Party have to do with it? But why did the Socialist Party come out to vote for Gys Agas to lead Albania??? No, I didn't know. When I went to the elections, I didn't know this would happen.
"What does Gys Agasi want in the Emirates with the Prime Minister and in DAVOS, what does he represent? What does he represent? Let me return to the Albanian citizens. Socialists, my friends, somewhere you love me, somewhere you criticize me, somewhere you hate me, human emotions. You voted for Gys Agasi," said Ahmetaj.
He is now accused of the AKSHI affair, in which he and businessman Ermal Beqiri, who was indicted in France, manipulated tenders, pocketing millions of euros. This was also done by kidnapping and intimidating competitors.
He is accused of the criminal offenses of "Unlawful competition through violence", "Unlawful deprivation of liberty", "Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions" committed in the special form of cooperation, that of a structured criminal group and "Structured criminal group", "Commitment of criminal offenses by a criminal organization and a structured criminal group", as well as "Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity". ©LAPSI.al
