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Albanian opposition files charges against PM for illegal donation

Xinhua, July 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Albanian main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has filed charges against Prime Minister Edi Rama for an alleged illegal transfer of 80,000 U.S. dollars to U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election campaign in 2012 , Albanian Daily News reported on Tuesday.

After filing the charges in the Prosecutor General's office, Eduard Halimi, vice chairman of the DP parliamentary group, accused Rama of three penal charges: fraud, money laundering and illegal exercise of influence.

"Facts gathered by the U.S. law-enforcing agencies show clearly that 80,000 dollars were paid by Albania through suspicious sources, which is undeclared by the PM, with the sole purpose of having a photo with U.S. President Barack Obama," Halimi said.

Rama's press office reacted immediately, saying there is no illegal funding in this case and taking a photo with the U.S. President is not a crime. Endit