Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha declared on Thursday that he has never been “non grata” in the United States, insisting that the measure against him was only related to his U.S. visa.
Speaking to journalists following reports that his “non grata” status had been lifted, the leader of the Democratic Party said he had received official communication and that he had now “returned.”
“I have received official communication. What I can say is that I have returned. Sali Berisha has never been non grata. There was a sanction related to my visa. My opponents called it ‘non grata,’ and I did not object. It was a ban on entering the United States. Today, I can say that I have returned,” Berisha stated.
However, public documentation from the U.S. Department of State continues to show that Berisha and his family members remain listed among individuals sanctioned for significant corruption.
The list published by the U.S. Department of State in May 2021 includes the names of Sali Berisha, his wife Liri Berisha, and their children, Shkëlzen and Argita Berisha, as individuals covered by the designation.
According to the decision announced in May 2021, the U.S. Department of State stated that Berisha had been involved in corrupt acts while serving in public office. The measure was also extended to his immediate family members.
