The arrest of Ermal Beqiri has sparked renewed debate in Albania over the relationship between political power, accountability, and the rule of law. According to academic and researcher Taulant Muka, such events should be viewed within a broader regional and European context, where numerous high-ranking political figures have eventually faced judicial processes.
 |
| Taulant Muka |
“History shows that even prime ministers and presidents can end up before justice,” Muka argues, pointing to examples from countries in the region and those that have gone through the European integration process.
Over the past decades, several former leaders across Eastern Europe and the Balkans have faced convictions or criminal proceedings, demonstrating that holding the highest political office does not necessarily guarantee immunity.
Among the most notable cases are:
- Pavlo Lazarenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, convicted in 2006.
- Vlado Bučkovski, former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, convicted in 2007.
- Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, convicted in 2011.
- Adrian Năstase, former Prime Minister of Romania, convicted in 2012.
- Ivo Sanader, former Prime Minister of Croatia, convicted in 2012.
- Vano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister of Georgia, convicted in 2014.
- Vlad Filat, former Prime Minister of Moldova, convicted in 2016.
- Svetozar Marović, former President of Serbia and Montenegro’s State Union, convicted in 2016.
- Nikola Gruevski, former Prime Minister of North Macedonia, convicted in 2018.
- Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, convicted in absentia in 2018 and later arrested in 2021.
- Fadil Novalić, former Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, convicted in 2023.
- Petr Nečas, former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, convicted with a suspended sentence in 2023.
According to Muka, these examples represent an important message for democratic societies: political power is temporary, while institutions and the rule of law are expected to remain permanent.
“Power often creates the illusion that a person is untouchable and above the law. History has repeatedly proven that this belief is dangerous,” Muka states.
The cases of former leaders across Europe and the Balkans have shown that political influence can eventually fade, while legal accountability may continue long after an individual leaves office.
For Albania, as a country seeking deeper integration with European institutions, the strength and independence of justice institutions remain a central test of democratic development.
As Taulant Muka emphasizes, the essential principle of a functioning democracy is simple: no political position should place anyone beyond the reach of the law.