An investigation by the American magazine Mother Jones sheds light on Fatmir Mediu’s relationships with prominent figures on the American right, raising doubts that these contacts are merely political or ceremonial. According to the investigation, the former defense minister is seeking support in the United States in relation to the long-running Gerdec case, with Sali Berisha also appearing alongside him.
Photos, meetings, and a network of ties with the American right
Mother Jones describes the presence of Mediu and Berisha at the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas, where they were photographed with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as with other figures from the MAGA camp. The American magazine portrays Mediu as a bridge between the Albanian opposition and conservative circles in the United States.
According to the article, Mediu has over the years built relationships with well-known Republican names, taken part in political and conservative events in Washington, and met with Justice Department officials and lawmakers from Texas. It is precisely here that the investigation raises its central question: what are these connections really being used for?
Gerdec remains the inextricable knot
At the center of the entire story remains the Gerdec tragedy of March 15, 2008, in which 26 people were killed, hundreds of others were injured, and thousands of buildings were destroyed. At the time, Mediu was defense minister.
Investigators, including an American team, found serious safety violations at the site where munitions were being dismantled. Albanian prosecutors later accused Mediu of abuse of office in connection with the lack of oversight of the contractor. He has consistently denied the accusations, while the case has for years remained the subject of legal and political clashes.
Claims of pressure on Albanian justice
According to Mother Jones, Mediu is trying to use the contacts he has built in the United States to seek help regarding the criminal case against him. The magazine mentions meetings and contacts with American officials in which, according to the published account, intervention or support was sought against what Mediu presents as the politicization of justice in Albania.
The investigation also mentions a claim by Mediu himself that he had submitted to an Albanian court a letter from six American congressmen asking that he not be prosecuted. The letter, however, has not been made public.
Mother Jones also reports that on one occasion Berisha presented a photo with senior officials of the U.S. Department of Justice as an “important meeting,” but the department itself disputed that version, clarifying that no meeting had taken place and that it was only a photograph taken in a hotel lobby.
Paxton, donations, and ethical questions
An important part of the investigation focuses on the relationship with Ken Paxton, a Republican figure who has himself been accompanied by controversy and investigations in the United States. According to Mother Jones, Mediu and Berisha appear to have helped create contacts with the Albanian-American community for the purpose of raising funds for Paxton’s campaign.
The article mentions donations from individuals of Albanian origin, as well as participation in events in Dallas and New Jersey. Some of the donors contacted said the contributions were personal, while denying business ties to Paxton, Mediu, or Berisha.
The picture also includes the name of Bashkim Ulaj and his family members, for whom donations and ties to debated business projects in Albania are reported. The investigation also presents the position of Astrit Ulaj, who has stated that the donations were personal and not linked to business interests.
Costly lobbying and interests that go beyond image
The investigation also examines efforts to remove Berisha’s “non grata” designation in the United States. According to the reporting, Albania’s Democratic Party hired a lobbying firm for this purpose, while the payments, according to the published declarations, reached $750,000 and were covered by an organization created by an Albanian-American contractor.
This financing scheme has also drawn attention in Albania. The article says there have been reports of interest from SPAK, although the status of this investigation has not been made public.
The picture that emerges from the investigation is broader than a series of photos or protocol meetings: it concerns a network of lobbying, political access, and attempts to exert influence at a time when the criminal cases of several important opposition figures remain open.
So far, there is no public evidence that these moves have brought Mediu any concrete result in the Gerdec case. But the Mother Jones investigation raises a political and institutional alarm: when old justice files are mixed with international lobbying, political photos, and unclear financing, the question is not only who is meeting whom, but what is being sought in return.