Investigations into the alleged abuse of public healthcare funds in Albania appear to have entered a decisive and more aggressive phase. Just days before the end-of-year holidays, Albania’s National Bureau of Investigation (BKH) carried out inspections and searches at the premises of Genius LAB, a private laboratory network owned by businessman Besnik Çullhaj.
 |
| On the left Ogerta Manastirliu, on the wrightBesnik Çullhaj and on the background "Genius Lab" (Picture modification) |
Besnik Çullhaj is widely known in Albania as one of the largest beneficiaries of healthcare tenders during the pandemic, and for years has been considered a political associate of former Health Minister Ogerta Manastirliu. The timing and scope of the BKH intervention suggest that investigators now believe they have gathered sufficient evidence to move beyond preliminary checks.
Why the BKH Intervention Is Not Routine
According to investigative sources, the raid on Genius LAB was not a standard administrative control. Instead, it followed months of evidence collection related to how “Genius shpk” allegedly secured hundreds of public tenders, primarily during the COVID-19 emergency.
During that period, institutional oversight was either minimal or nearly paralyzed, allowing procurement procedures to be fast-tracked under the justification of public health urgency. This environment, investigators believe, created fertile ground for systematic abuse, favoritism, and inflated contracts.
Sources close to the case report that company executives reacted immediately once the inspections began, allegedly attempting to remove or destroy sensitive equipment, mobile phones, and documentation. Such actions, if proven, could significantly aggravate the legal consequences and reinforce suspicions of deliberate wrongdoing.
From Private Operators to Political Decision-Makers
One of the most important shifts in this investigation is its expansion beyond private companies. The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) is now reportedly focusing on political responsibility and institutional protection that may have enabled the scheme.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, without the formal approvals, political backing, and institutional direction of Ogerta Manastirliu, the private laboratory scheme would not have functioned at such scale. It would not have expanded aggressively during the pandemic, nor generated the wealth that is now under scrutiny.
This marks a critical moment in Albania’s fight against high-level corruption, as it challenges a long-standing perception that political figures remain insulated while private operators face consequences alone.
Genius shpk and the COVID-19 Tender Explosion
From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic onward, Genius shpk, owned by Besnik Çullhaj, transformed into a systematic beneficiary of public healthcare funds. Official data indicate that the company secured approximately 270 public tenders, most of them issued by structures under the Ministry of Health.
A striking pattern emerges from these contracts:
- Many tenders reportedly had no real competition
- Procedures were largely formalistic
- Contract values frequently matched the maximum limit fund
- Emergency rules were repeatedly invoked
Such characteristics are classic indicators of prearranged procurement, according to anti-corruption experts.
State Treasury Data Raises Further Red Flags
Financial records from Albania’s State Treasury further deepen the controversy. Data shows 537 separate payments made in favor of Genius shpk, with a total value exceeding 384 million lekë.
Investigative sources argue that processing such a high volume of payments would have been nearly impossible without consistent political support at senior levels. This alleged protection is now expected to become a central focus of SPAK’s criminal investigation.
If proven, the case would represent one of the largest healthcare corruption scandals in post-pandemic Albania.
Public Trust, Accountability, and the Rule of Law
This case comes at a time when Albanian citizens remain deeply sensitive to issues of healthcare integrity. During the pandemic, public trust was repeatedly tested as families faced overcrowded hospitals, shortages of equipment, and inconsistent services.
The possibility that emergency funds were exploited for private gain has reignited public outrage and intensified calls for real accountability, not just symbolic investigations.
For SPAK and the BKH, this case represents a crucial test of institutional credibility: whether Albania’s justice system can pursue corruption wherever it leads, including the highest levels of political power.
What Comes Next
As the investigation continues, further raids, interrogations, and potential indictments are expected. Legal experts suggest that if political responsibility is formally established, the case could reshape Albania’s anti-corruption landscape and set a precedent for future pandemic-related investigations.
For now, the Genius LAB case stands as a stark reminder that emergency situations must never become shields for corruption, and that transparency in healthcare is not only a financial issue, but a matter of public life and trust.