Independent MP candidate Kreshnik Merxhani has published a video recording of what he considers to be manipulation of ballots in Tepelene.

Merxhani, who is one of the 3 Vevendosje activists running as independent in this election, said the case showed the “30-year-old mechanism of manipulation of citizens’ will” and vowed to press charges.

The video recording appears to show members of a ballot counting team inside a counting center. A number of open ballot boxes appear under a desk, while one team member appears to be writing on ballot papers.

“In the city of Tepelena, in its Palace of Culture, exactly in the ballot counting center no.79, at 06:51, dated 26.04.2021, we found that, without being hindered by anyone and openly, as most observers left the counting center after it was announced to them that the process was closed, the ballot counting persons started another parallel process of rigging ballot papers,” Merxhani wrote on social media.

He claimed that “over 1,000 invalid ballot papers in the Gjirokaster district are not a coincidence”, hinting that they were invalidated by party militants in the counting teams.

Merxhani explained that the invalidation of ballot papers was allegedly carried out by adding a sign to the paper. He claimed the same was done with ballot papers in Tirana, and that they will legally pursue the case.