Astrit Sejdini

Astrit Sejdini does not own any other businesses apart from 70% of the shares of the Ora News company. He initially purchased this company in 2011 for 26.5 million lekë from his relative Ylli Ndroqi. In 2013, the shares were transferred back to Ndroqi at the same price. Sejdini returned as a shareholder in the company in 2019, when he bought 70% of the shares for a much lower price than a few years earlier. In both contracts, Sejdini, who had previously lived in Australia, is identified with his Australian passport. On his LinkedIn profile, Sejdini presents himself as a chef at Ora News. The profile includes videos in which Sejdini is shown cooking in the restaurant located within the television building. For over 8 years, he has hosted cooking television shows on Ora News, where he is known as "Chef Titi".

Media Companies / Groups

Media Outlets

Facts

Family & Friends

Affiliated Interests Family Members Friends

Ylli Ndroqi

Brother-in-law of Astrit Sejdini. The former owner of 60% of the shares of the Ora Sha company, made his first appearance as a businessman in Albania in 2003 when he registered the company Yldon sh.p.k, whose capital quickly increased. In 2007, Ndroqi entered the media industry and purchased the shares of Ora News (now RTV Ora) from Ilda Prifti for 25 million lekë. In 2011, he transferred 40% of the shares to his spouse, Mimoza Ndroqi.
In December 2010, Ylli Ndroqi acquired 100% of the shares of Teknotrade sh.p.k for 265,000 euros. The company was renamed Channel One and later Ora News. The shares of this second company changed hands several times between Ndroqi and his partner Astrit Sejdini, who currently owns 70% of the shares.
Ylli Ndroqi has established several different companies. Based on publicly available financial statements, the years 2013-2016 were the best years for Ndroqi's businesses. In 2015, his main company, in cooperation with other firms, signed a concession contract for the construction of a yacht port in Durrës, a project that did not materialize. Albania Bay Marina, owned 50% by Ndroqi, has been suspended.
In 2020, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) initiated investigations into Ndroqi's wealth based on anti-mafia law, citing his arrest in Turkey in 1998 and an arrest warrant from Italy in 2006 as reasons for suspicion. According to SPAK, Ndroqi is also linked to drug trafficking, and his wealth cannot be justified by legal sources. The anti-mafia law requires the accused person to provide evidence for their wealth. The First Instance Special Court and the Appeals Court found the accusations to be justified.
The shares of the Ora company, held under the name of Ylli Ndroqi (60%) and his spouse (40%), including the radio, were confiscated in April 2023 by a decision of the Special Court of Appeal Against Organized Crime and Corruption, based on anti-mafia law.
The shares were transferred to the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets in September 2023 after the Supreme Court rejected a request to suspend the decision made by Ndroqi and his spouse.
In addition to the shares of the company that controls RTV ORA, Ylli Ndroqi also had 30% of the shares in the sister television Ora News, formerly Channel One. Furthermore, his shares in all companies and several private properties were confiscated.
Ylli Ndroqi and his spouse have registered an appeal in the Supreme Court against the confiscation decision.
Apart from his business, Ndroqi served as the honorary consul of the United Mexican States in Albania for 6 years, from 2012 to 2018, and for a period of time as the President and later the Honorary President of the Association of Honorary Consuls in Albania. In 2022, he was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of State for involvement in organized crime and corruption.

Mimoza Ndroqi

Sister-in-law of Astrit and the wife of Ylli Ndroqi, and active in media management.

Further Information

Headlines

Veliaj dhe Ndroqi akuzojnë njëri-tjetrin për shantazh [Veliaj and Ndroqi accuse each other of blackmail ], by exit.al, (2020) Accessed on 24 August 2023

“Hajvane, idiote…” mesazhet që zbulojnë obsesionin e Veliajt për kontrollin e medias [“Animal, Idiot”: Messages that reveal Veliaj's obsession for media control ], by Lapsi.al, (2020) Accessed on 24 August 2023

Konfiskimi i televizionit Ora News të Ylli Ndroqit merr formë të prerë [The confiscation of Ylli Ndroqi's Ora News television becomes definitive], by reporter.al, (2023) Accessed on 24 August 2023

Tatimorët gjobisin televizionet kritike me qeverinë ‘për pagat’ e gazetarëve [Tax authorities impose fines on government-critical television stations under the pretext of "journalists salaries”], by reporter.al (2023) Accessed on 24 August 2023

DASH shpall 'non grata' Ylli Ndroqin dhe Aqif Rakipin, bllokon pronat e tyre në SHBA! Blinken: Të korruptuar dhe kërcënojnë stabilitetin e Shqipërisë [DOS declares Ylli Ndroqi and Aqif Rakipi 'persona non grata', blocks their properties in the USA! Blinke

Përballja me ligjin e konsujve të nderit cënon imazhin e diplomacisë shqiptare [Dishonourable Consul: When Albanian Diplomatic Tool Becomes Cover for Crime], by Reporter.al, (2022) Accessed on 24 August 2023

Data Publicly Available

ownership data is easily available from other sources, e. g. public registries etc.

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Meta Data

The ownership structure and financial statement are publicly available on the Albanian National Business Registry. The financial data provided are for 2022. The Central Bank's average exchange rate for 2022 was used to convert the amounts into USD. See sources for more.