Dutch Journalist Vincent van Gerven Oei Calls for Edi Rama to Be Questioned by SPAK Over “The Albanian Files”
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In an exclusive interview with Armela Ferko on SYRI TV, Oei discussed the criminal proceedings registered by SPAK following a criminal complaint submitted by civil society representatives on August 12, 2026. According to the official response cited during the interview, SPAK registered criminal proceeding No. 97 on September 10, 2026. The investigation was reportedly still ongoing when the information became public on November 7.
Oei believes that the investigation must examine decisions made by Albania’s National Territorial Council (KKT), whose chairman is Prime Minister Edi Rama. He argued that the council’s decisions provide an important starting point for investigators seeking to establish how major construction projects were approved and who was involved in the process.
“The thing that is certainly being investigated is the decisions of the KKT,” Oei said, pointing out that Rama heads the institution responsible for those decisions.
He went further, arguing that the prime minister should be summoned by SPAK to explain the decisions and approvals associated with the projects under investigation.
“I believe it is essential that this be investigated, and now we are waiting. We are waiting for the Prime Minister to be called to SPAK. I believe that should happen,” the Dutch journalist said.
Oei calls for architects, companies and investors to be questioned
Beyond the political decision-making process, Oei believes investigators should also question the architects and international architectural firms mentioned in his reporting on “The Albanian Files”.
He said investigators should examine how these architects communicated with Rama, how they interacted with private companies and investors, and how payments for their work were arranged.
According to Oei, the investigation should establish the relationships between architects, developers, investors and public officials involved in approving construction projects.
He also argued that the inquiry should not be restricted to a small number of resorts or buildings.
Asked whether it would make sense for SPAK to concentrate only on specific developments, Oei rejected such a limited approach.
“We are now at a moment when this is no longer an issue involving only me or a few journalists. It is a problem that is alive within Albanian society. We all know the truth about these projects, and I do not believe the investigation can be limited to just a few resorts or one or two buildings. The system must now be investigated,” he said.
Investigation should examine the entire construction approval system
Oei specifically mentioned several institutions that he believes should be examined as part of a broader investigation, including the National Territorial Council (KKT), the National Agency for Territorial Planning (AKPT) and the National Territorial Development Agency (AZHT).
In his view, investigators should examine the documentation held by these institutions, question their senior officials and establish how decisions concerning construction projects were made.
He argued that the inquiry should cover developments throughout Albania, from projects in residential neighbourhoods to major investments along the country's coastline.
Oei also raised concerns about possible money laundering, arguing that investigators should examine the financial relationships between companies, investors and the institutions involved in the approval process.
These are allegations and investigative avenues raised by the journalist; they do not, by themselves, establish that money laundering or other criminal offences have occurred.
“The Albanian Files” was only the key to a wider investigation
During the interview, Oei described “The Albanian Files” as the starting point for a much broader examination of construction projects and the relationships behind them.
He argued that the material published in his reporting should not be treated as the entirety of the evidence available to investigators. Instead, he believes SPAK should obtain the complete documentation held by the relevant planning and territorial development agencies and question everyone involved in the decisions.
“‘The Albanian Files’ was only the key that opened the door a little. Then, of course, all the documentation from AKPT and AZHT must be examined, the heads of these institutions must be questioned, and all the people connected to these decisions must be interviewed,” Oei said.
He added that further documents could emerge once investigators begin examining the institutional records and the relationships between the different actors.
Skanderbeg Square among the possible starting points
When asked where investigators could begin examining the relationships between architects, private companies and public authorities, Oei pointed to several possible starting points, including the redevelopment of Skanderbeg Square in Tirana.
He specifically mentioned the architectural firm 51N4E, which became widely associated with the project and has featured in his reporting.
Oei argued that architects who have publicly discussed connections involving the prime minister, architectural firms, private companies and investors could be among the first people questioned by investigators.
He suggested that examining these relationships could help establish how projects were developed, financed and approved.
The SPAK investigation, registered as criminal proceeding No. 97, is therefore at the centre of renewed attention following the publication of the official response confirming that the case had been opened.
For Oei, the key issue is whether investigators will examine individual projects in isolation or trace the broader network of institutional decisions, private investments and financial relationships that he believes connects them.
At this stage, the existence of the criminal proceeding does not mean that the allegations raised in “The Albanian Files” have been proven. The investigation must establish whether any criminal offences occurred and whether specific individuals bear responsibility.