Accusations against Yuri Kim/ American media exposes Yuri Kim's corruption

2025-01-22 20:04:00, Politikë CNA

Yuri Kim

One of the most prestigious analytical media in the United States has published an article exposing the diplomatic corruption of former US ambassador to Tirana Yuri Kim. The author of the article, Michael Rubin, focuses on Yuri Kim's activities as ambassador to Tirana and her personal relationship with Edi Rama, who is described as an autocratic and corrupt leader.

The article also exposes other affairs of Yuri Kim during her diplomatic activity in other countries. The author of the article asks President Trump and Secretary Rubio to show special attention in the appointment of new American ambassadors and calls Yuri Kim "a mistake that should be avoided."

"The problem, however, was not only her tenure as acting assistant secretary. Kim also failed in her experience as ambassador to Albania. Normally, a diplomatic assignment in Tirana should go smoothly. Albanians are pro-American and consider the guidance of the American ambassador more than many other European countries. However, not all is well in Albanian democracy. Prime Minister Edi Rama is following the populist path carved out by Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in Turkey to hollow out Albanian democracy.

Like Erdogan, Rama targets ethnic minorities and seeks to use political power for personal gain. It was in this context and because of his desire to develop the Albanian Riviera – a region where Albania’s ethnic Greek minority lives – that he imprisoned Fredi Beleri, the elected mayor of one of the Riviera’s most picturesque towns. Kim played down the incident; she did not want to damage her personal relationship with Rama.

However, Kim's decision to ignore and allow Rama's corruption scheme to fester turned into a diplomatic crisis between Albania and Greece that disrupted Balkan integration and cooperation as the Ukraine crisis erupted. The fact that Kim was openly lobbying the State Department for the post of ambassador to Turkey, at the same time as he was siding against Greece in a dispute, was "unseemly at best," the article says.

There is also a security component to Kim’s potential nomination. South Korean sources told me in 2023 that they recorded wiretaps during the time Kim was an aide to Assistant Secretary Chris Hill and a member of the U.S. delegation to the Six-Party Talks focused on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. If Korean security officials were willing to make such rumors at a time when Kim was in Albania and not scheduled for another post in Asia, it is unlikely that they would have simply filed charges. Vulnerability to blackmail should be a major concern for anyone on the front lines with China .