Tom Doshi (born 6 June 1966) is an Albanian businessman and politician, ex-member of the

Socialist Party of Albania The Socialist Party of Albania (, PSSh), also known as simply the Socialist Party (, PS), is a Social democracy, social-democratic centre-left political party in Albania. It is the successor to the Party of Labour of Albania, which reconstituted ...

in the last three legislatures (2005, 2009, 2013), and the leader of the

Social Democratic Party of Albania The Social Democratic Party of Albania (, PSD or PSDSH) is a minor social democratic political party in Albania. Its founder is Skënder Gjinushi, a former Minister of Education (1987–1991) and Speaker of Parliament (1997–2001). Histo ...

. Doshi, Tom, Biography on the Parliament Webpage
- Retrieved 5 March 2015 He has been allegedly and suspected to corruption, buying electoral votes and involvement in criminal activities and/or organizations. On 2018, he and his family were sanctioned from entering the United States for such suspicions and allegations.

Biography

A scion of a prominent family from

Kelmendi Kelmendi is a historical Albanian tribes, Albanian tribe (''fis'') and region in Malësia (Kelmend (municipality), Kelmend municipality) and eastern Montenegro (parts of Gusinje Municipality). It is located in the upper valley of the Cem (river), ...

, Doshi spent his childhood in the village of

Velipojë Velipojë ( sq-definite, Velipoja) is a village and a former municipality in Shkodër County, northwestern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform, it became a subdivision of the municipality of Shkodër. The population at the 2011 census wa ...

, 31 km northwest of

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...

. He graduated in Law from the

State University of Tetova The State University of Tetova (; ) is a public university in North Macedonia. The university was established on 17 December 1994 as the first Albanian-language higher education institution in Macedonia, though not recognized as a state universit ...

. For some time Doshi lived in Australia where his four children were born. After returning to Albania, Doshi conducted a series of manoeuvres in the business field acquiring various businesses, such as a milk processing plant and the biggest pharmaceutical company in the country.

Politics

Doshi entered politics with the Socialist Party of Albania under the leadership of

Fatos Nano Fatos Thanas Nano (; born 16 September 1952) is an Albanian socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of Albania in 1991, from 1997 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2005. He was the first leader and founder of the Socialist Party of Albania and ...

in the legislature that began in 2005, and continued to stay in the Socialist Party even after the arrival of the new leader

Edi Rama Edi Rama (born Edvin Kristaq Rama; 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician, artist and writer who has been serving as the 33rd and incumbent prime minister of Albania since 2013 and chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005. He was M ...

. During his years as a deputy, from 2005 to 2007, Doshi has served as a member of the Committee of Labour, Social Affairs and Health. Doshi is the chairman of the

Controversies

Assault on journalist

In March 2008 Tom Doshi was accused of assaulting the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) journalist Besar Likmeta in front of another MP. Likmeta was investigating the origin of Doshi's diploma.

Alleged murder plot

On March 2, 2015, Doshi was expelled from the Socialist Party's parliamentary group. The expulsion came after Doshi had filed harsh criticisms against Prime Minister

, Defence Minister

Saimir Tahiri Saimir Tahiri is a convicted Albanian politician, who served as the Minister of Interior Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama from 2013 to 2017. In 2019 he was sentenced to 5 years in prison, reduced to 3 years and 4 months due ...

and the Speaker of the Parliament

Ilir Meta Ilir Rexhep Meta (; born 24 March 1969) is an Albanian former politician who served as President of Albania from 2017 to 2022. Previously Meta served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and he was Speaker of the Parliament of Albania from 2013 ...

. Doshi commented: "Today Rama has a tutor called Ilir Meta, who has paid lek

oney Oney may refer to: * Oney, France, a subsidiary of French Auchan Holding and Banque Accord * Oney, Oklahoma, an unincorporated community in Oklahoma * "Oney" (song), a song written by Jerry Chesnut and sung by Johnny Cash in 1972 * Oney Judge ...

and ordered to kill me and Mhill Fufi." Days later, Doshi released the video of a private conversation between him and Durim Bani, the assassin paid to eliminate Doshi. In the video Bani states that "there are over 200,000 euros for the head of Doshi" and that "the killers will have the support of the government and Ilir Meta."Skenari i vrasjes, Tom Doshi publikon videon me rrëfimin e vrasësit të penduar. Ja transkripti
- ORA News, 5 March 2015

Investigation in Australia

OCCRP (Investigative Journalists Group) claims that Doshi is suspected of leading an organized criminal group implicated in money laundering, drug trafficking, and other offenses in Australia, according to assessment by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)

Sanctions

On 16 April 2018, Doshi and his family members were banned from entering the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doshi, Tom 20th-century Albanian businesspeople 21st-century Albanian businesspeople Socialist Party of Albania politicians People from Shkodër Political party leaders of Albania Members of the Parliament of Albania 1966 births Living people 21st-century Albanian politicians Individuals sanctioned by the United States Department of State