"This oak tree has healthy and strong roots." - Kosovar businessman Behgjet Pacolli would declare about himself, immediately after an article published by Hashtag.al, which raised questions and shed light on the way he acted with the construction of the Vlora International Airport, after raising concerns that he may be creating a corridor for Russian strategic interests in Albania.
Pacolli was quick to dismiss and ironize Hashtag.al's article, but no later than today (17.10.2025), it seems that the Tirana Court has sent a storm wave to his "oak", as this institution has decided to block any possible action of his against the concessionaire of Vlora International Airport.
According to a decision, the Tirana Court has accepted the submitted request and has taken the measure of securing the lawsuit against the Company "Vlora International Airport - VIA" SH.PK, suspending any decision planned at the General Assembly of Partners, which was scheduled to be held on October 20, 2025.
Also, based on the decision, the voting rights of the majority shareholder, the company "Mabco Constructions SA", are suspended until the registration of the contract for the sale of 49% of the capital shares of the company VIA sh.pk, transferred on April 3, 2025 to the buyer "2A Group" sh.pk.
In the article that Hashtag.al published, it was reported that the Tirana Prosecutor's Office has structured a group of prosecutors to investigate the Vlora airport issue.
The investigation has been registered for 3 individuals: businessman Behgjet Pacolli with his brother Emin Pacolli, as well as citizen Nelson Çela, administrator of the parent company in Switzerland Mabco Construction SA.
Citizen Nelson Çela was summoned to the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, where he gave a deposition, and immediately afterwards signed his resignation as administrator of the company owned by Pacolli.
All three are officially under investigation for fraud with serious consequences, computer fraud, and forgery of documents and acts.
The criminal proceedings against Mr. Pacolli and two others are numbered 64/06 and began in September, after a valuable informant was put in motion by partner intelligence services; a member of the investigative structure is believed to have received “clearance” from the FBI.
But this story, seemingly a corruption clash (Balluku–Pacolli), carries an even stronger concern than corruption, as there are indications that Pacolli is making deals far away to use the Vlora airport as collateral. His actions have left their mark as far away as Astana, Kazakhstan.
The concern is that the corrupt acrobatics of Tirana officials have taken the game much further than corruption, as Vlora Airport is a strategic logistical capacity in the Mediterranean. / Hashtag.al

