Internationally acclaimed Albanian singer Bleona Qereti has filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of New York, Queens County, against Albanian-American activist Evi Kokalari, seeking $2 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed on August 15, 2025, through the law firm Waymaker LLC, accuses Kokalari of conducting a “continuous campaign of defamation, deceit, and orchestrated attacks” against the artist since 2022.
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| Bleona Qereti and Evi Kokalari |
Allegations in the Lawsuit
According to the court filing, Evi Kokalari has deliberately spread false and harmful narratives targeting Qereti, with the intention of damaging her professionally and personally. The complaint outlines several actions allegedly undertaken by Kokalari:
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Publishing and amplifying defamatory statements across social media and media outlets
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Denigrating Qereti among influential individuals in her professional and personal network
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Misleading U.S. and Albanian political figures for personal gain and to Qereti’s detriment
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Attempting to boycott events where Qereti was scheduled to appear
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Applying pressure and blackmail on influential figures to gain financial and public exposure benefits
The Damage Claimed
The lawsuit argues that this defamation campaign has caused irreparable harm to Bleona’s public image both in the United States and in Albania. Beyond the professional impact, the filing stresses that the attacks have inflicted deep emotional distress on Qereti and her family, with millions of people exposed to what the lawsuit describes as “malicious fabrications.”
The lawsuit emphasizes the cultural weight of defamation in Albanian society, noting that reputational damage is long-lasting and often impossible to erase.
Qereti’s Position
Until now, Qereti has refrained from publicly addressing the allegations and attacks. However, in her filing she states that silence is no longer an option.
“The truth is documented, there are numerous witnesses, and it is time for this conduct to face legal consequences. The public deserves to know the full facts and not be misled by disinformation,” the artist declared through her legal representatives.
By filing this case, Qereti seeks both financial compensation for the damages claimed and formal accountability for what she describes as a malicious and targeted smear campaign, Euronews Albania reports.