On January 21, 2026, a special court in Albania cleared Agron Shehaj—member of Parliament and leader of the political party Mundësia—of the criminal charge of defamation brought by Adriatik Lapaj, head of the civic movement “Shqipëria Bëhet.”
According to the court’s decision, Shehaj’s public statements accusing Lapaj of receiving money from organized crime did not meet the legal elements of defamation. Therefore, Shehaj was found not guilty of defamation.
However, the court did find Shehaj guilty of insult (fyerje) rather than defamation, because his statements were considered to have harmed Lapaj’s personal honor and dignity. For this, Shehaj was fined 300,000 Albanian lek (about €2,700).
The ruling was issued by the Special Court and Judge Erjon Çela. It remains unclear whether either side will appeal this decision to the Court of Appeals (GJKKO).