Korçë, Albania — When citizens assume that state-owned property is protected by law, reality sometimes reveals a different picture: a single signature can open the door to years of legal disputes and controversial developments.
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| A collage depicting the ongoing residential construction in Korçë alongside official state documents. The project continues despite court rulings annulling the initial permit and official statements from the Ministry of Agriculture declaring the foundational notary declaration invalid. |
According to documents related to the case, in March 2021 Papadhami signed a declaration before notary Denada Kodra, claiming that AKU Korçë owned a former laboratory facility and allowing neighboring property owners to build along its border.
However, the ownership records reportedly showed that the property belonged to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, not to AKU.
The Ministry of Agriculture later described the declaration as “absolutely invalid”, arguing that AKU did not have legal ownership rights over the property and therefore could not authorize construction-related decisions involving the land.
Court Annuls First Construction Permit, But Building Continues
The controversy reached the Administrative Court of Appeal, which annulled the first construction permit issued for the project.
Despite the court decision and the ministry’s position regarding the property ownership, the Municipality of Korçë issued new construction permits in 2025, allowing the project to continue.
The developer behind the project is identified as Guri Meko, while questions have also been raised regarding the role of notary Denada Kodra, who formalized the declaration that was later considered invalid by state institutions.
Former AKU Director Dismissed, Later Leads Another Institution
The case has also drawn attention due to Papadhami’s professional trajectory.
In August 2022, he was dismissed from his position as director of AKU Korçë following findings of serious violations of legal acts and employment obligations, according to official statements related to his removal.
However, Papadhami later became head of the Korçë branch of the State Health Inspectorate (ISHSH), raising further public debate over institutional accountability.
A Legal Contradiction That Remains Unresolved
The situation has created a striking institutional contradiction:
- AKU considers the declaration invalid;
- The Ministry of Agriculture states that the property belongs to the state institution under its administration;
- The Administrative Court of Appeal overturned the original construction permit;
- The Municipality of Korçë issued new permits;
- Construction has continued.
Following inspections in March 2026, the National Inspectorate for Territorial Protection (IKMT) reportedly found that construction works were continuing according to the approved project.
Yet the central question remains: How can a building project continue on the basis of a procedure that state institutions themselves have challenged as legally invalid?
The Question of Responsibility
The case highlights broader concerns about the protection of public property, administrative responsibility, and the effectiveness of institutional oversight in Albania.
If the declaration that enabled the construction process was legally flawed, responsibility would need to be determined among those who prepared, approved, or relied upon the disputed documents.
For now, the situation presents an unusual scenario: a dismissed former official’s signature remains at the center of a property dispute; a document declared invalid did not stop construction; a court decision overturned an initial permit, yet the building continues to rise.
The final question remains whether legal institutions will identify those responsible — or whether the story will end with a completed building and no one held accountable.