The film, The Impact of Money Laundering on Poverty, produced by BIRN Kosovo and authored by KALLXO.com’s editor-in-chief, Kreshnik Gashi, brought together more than 60 participants from Kosovo’s top institutions, international organisations and civil society.
High-level figures, including the Governor of the Central Bank, the Director of the Tax Administration, the Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, and representatives from embassies, EULEX, the EU Office and judicial institutions, watched the unveiling of a documentary that connects financial crime to real-world social costs: poverty, weakened institutions and worsening income disparity.
In opening remarks, BIRN Kosovo’s Executive Director, Jeta Xharra, stressed that tackling money laundering is key to protecting democracy in the region.
“Democracy is still in the process of consolidation. If illicit money continues to influence politics and the economy, true democratic governance remains out of reach,” Xharra said.
Kosovo’s outgoing Minister of Justice, Albulena Haxhiu, addressed the government’s ongoing battle against corruption, while Acting Chief State Prosecutor Besim Kelmendi warned about the daily impact of financial crime.
“The fight against corruption and organised crime is a battle for our future and we agree that corruption strikes at the foundations of our state,” he declared.
The premiere concluded with closing remarks from Kreshnik Gashi, who emphasized that the documentary is not just a media product but a call to action.
“The documentary shows that citizens have been forced to emigrate because crime destroyed their businesses. Citizens are having a hard time buying apartments and building houses, not because they are lazy but because money laundering has increased their prices,” Gashi said.
The 50-minute film features exclusive interviews with 12 experts, including prosecutors, financial investigators, tax and customs officials, academics and journalists from Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro.
Drawing on their insights, it exposes the systemic enablers of money laundering and how it exacerbates poverty and social inequality in the region.
From real estate fraud to shell companies and criminal enterprises operating across borders, the film paints a disturbing picture of how dirty money infiltrates legitimate economies, inflating prices and pushing average citizens to the margins.
After the premiere, attendees gathered to reflect on how the film should serve as a wake-up call and a tool for advocacy in the fight against financial crime.
As the Western Balkans continues to face challenges linked to transparency, governance and socio-economic inequality, the launch of the documentary marks a pivotal moment in using journalism and storytelling to push for institutional accountability and reform.
The documentary was produced with the support of the British embassy as part of the project “Mass Education of Kosovo Citizens on the Consequences of Money Laundering, Types of Money Laundering, and Institutional Challenges in Combating Money Laundering”.