The United States will not change its stance when it comes to tackling corruption, despite a defamation lawsuit against US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Delivering its message through its diplomatic mission in Albania, the US says that “the fight against corruption is an essential component of national security” and that it will “use all means under disposal to punish it”.
The reaction came as a response from an inquiry sent by Euronews Albania following the press conference called by former premier Sali Berisha in which he confirmed to have taken secretary Blinken at the Correctional Court of Paris.
Berisha called on the US Secretary to publish any “evidence or facts” based on which the decision was made.
On May 19, the Department of State publicly designated Berisha and his close family members over allegations of “serious corruption” and “undermining democracy”.
Berisha has dismissed these claims and referred to them as “politically motivated”.
A few weeks after, US President Joe Biden expanded an executive order which blocked the property of foreign citizens categorized as “persona non-grata” by the Treasury Department.
On Tuesday, Ambassador Kim urged the Democratic Party to distance itself from Berisha.
Apart from Berisha, other political figures declared non-grata by the US are former prosecutor-general Adriatik Llalla, former Durresi mayor Vangjush Dako and former Socialist MP Tom Doshi.
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