Belind Këlliçi Accuses Olsi Rama of Air Albania Casino Scheme Involving €26 Million Land Revaluation

 

TIRANA, Albania – Albania's Democratic Party has accused the government of orchestrating a major corruption scheme involving the casino license at the Air Albania Stadium tower, claiming a plot of land purchased for just €320,000 was revalued to €26 million within two months to meet legal capital requirements.

 

During a press conference, the and Democratic Party official Belind Këlliçi presented documents they say expose an elaborate scheme linking the casino license to GLG Investment, a company they allege is connected to Olsi Rama, the brother of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The opposition said the full dossier will be submitted to Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SPAK).

According to Këlliçi, the casino operator Space+ originally belonged primarily to ALB-STAR, but in 2025 ownership was transferred to GLG Investment. Albanian law requires casino operators to hold a minimum capital of approximately €12 million, a condition the opposition claims was artificially satisfied through the dramatic revaluation of a 275,550-square-meter forest property at Cape of Rodon.

The Democratic Party alleges that GLG purchased the land in April 2025 for approximately €320,000, before an appraisal valued the same property at nearly €26 million only weeks later. Këlliçi argued the inflated valuation allowed GLG Investment to increase its capital and obtain regulatory approval for the casino license.

The opposition further claimed the ownership structure behind GLG Investment involves offshore entities and nominee shareholders, raising questions over the identity of the ultimate beneficial owners and the origin of the investment funds. Këlliçi also alleged connections between businessman Bledar Sinani, businessman Gert Haka, and Olsi Rama, calling on SPAK to investigate the alleged network.

In addition, the Democratic Party accused several state institutions—including the Financial Supervisory Authority, the Competition Authority, the anti-money laundering authorities, and the Strategic Investments Committee—of facilitating the transaction by approving what it describes as an unlawful scheme.

The government has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.

The accusations come as the opposition intensifies its anti-corruption campaign, promising to submit additional evidence concerning casino licenses, strategic investments, construction permits, and alleged offshore structures to Albania's anti-corruption prosecutors.