British 'non grata', Berisha lost the appeal/ This is what the international media write

The international media have reflected the decision of the Appeal in Great Britain, which overturned the complaint made by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha regarding his declaration 'non grata' by the British authorities.

The news in some of the international media refers to the "Reuter" agency, which writes that the leader of the Albanian opposition Sali Berisha, the former president and prime minister of the country, lost on Monday his appeal against the ban on entry to Britain for suspected criminal connections.

Berisha, head of Albania's main opposition Democratic Party, was expelled from the UK in 2022 over his alleged links to organized crime and corruption, which Berisha denies.

He appealed the decision to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in London in March, arguing that he was detained by the UK based on unproven false claims.

SIAC rejected Berisha's appeal in a written decision on Monday.

Berisha said in a statement: "There is no evidence or fact for any illegal action."

"I remain convinced that the path of justice that I will continue will serve the truth and will hit transnational corruption in the way it deserves."

The decision to bar Berisha from entering the UK came a year after he was detained by the United States for alleged corruption and abuse of power.

Berisha, 79, faces accusations in Albania that he used his influence when he was prime minister between 2005 and 2009 to favor his daughter's husband in the privatization of state land, which he and his daughter deny.

He was placed under house arrest in December and prosecutors have not filed any criminal charges.