Journalist Esiona Konomi has published an article about the expenses of the May 11, 2025 electoral campaign, revealing that the leader of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, paid bills for accommodation, massages, and other luxury services for American consultants who participated in the campaign, including Chris LaCivita and Paul Manafort.
According to Konomi, American consultant Chris LaCivita, who paid Sali Berisha for the May 11 campaign, has also benefited from the leader of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, who has paid the bills for accommodation in luxury hotels in Tirana, but also for massages.
From the report on expenses and income that Mediu submitted to the CEC, it is evident that he paid 1,100 euros for accommodation and Indian massages for Chris LaCivita.
“The Client shall pay the Contractor a Retention Fee according to the following schedule:
Hotel Accommodation (May 2025):
Invoice for Stewart James Jackson: ALL 81,312.00 (mainly accommodation).
Bill for Paul Manafort: 112,116.00 ALL (accommodation and other services).
Bill for Chris LaCivita: 118,916.00 ALL (accommodation, bar and massage services).
Fatmir Mediu has contracted an American company for the May 11 elections to develop a social media strategy. In the report he submitted to the CEC, it is stated that Mediu paid 35 thousand euros for the PR contract with Harris Media.
Part of the contract
a. You will be paid in advance for services that include digital consulting and strategy, social media management, graphic design, database management, light video editing, email marketing, website maintenance, and META assistance.
b. The Contractor will serve as a digital media strategist, participating in daily and/or weekly calls and meetings as requested by the Client and preparing reports on activities and plans on key initiatives on a regular basis as requested by the Client.
As part of the Retention Agreement, the Contractor will send Harris Media's Vice President of Political Affairs, Brian Ruddle, to Tirana for the dates of April 12, 2025 to April 19, 2025. In addition, Harris Media will send one of its senior accounting executives, Austin Parsons, to be based in the country from April 12 until the end of the campaign.
The integrated staff member(s) will work in close coordination with the Client team to provide on-site support, execute campaign-related tasks, and ensure seamless integration with ongoing digital marketing efforts.
This provision shall not be construed as an employment relationship between the integrated staff member and the Client. The staff member shall remain under the direction and employment of the Contractor throughout the duration of the assignment.
The expense will be paid according to the following scheme:
A one-time expense of $35,000, for the entire duration of this agreement.
The Client will reimburse the Contractor for all travel and accommodation arrangements in accordance with the terms set out in the aforementioned section of this Agreement.
The Republican Party (PR) had a total income of 11,808,057 lek.
These revenues are divided by sources as follows, based on the entity's Financial Summary:
Total revenue from public funds (Public funding):
◦ Amount: 2,689,113.00 ALL.
Total income generated by the party itself (Non-public financing):
◦ Amount: 9,118,944.84 ALL.
