From January 21st to January 21st

One day ago, the Socialist leader, Edi Rama, declared that no one could stop the people’s anger, while the Head of the Government, Sali Berisha, declared that everyone who would try to violate the law would be punished.

The US embassy warned the US citizens to stay out of the boulevard. The demonstration started at 14:00, with people gathering in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, which was surrounded by many police forces.

The protesters clashed with the police, which then escalated with throwing stones against the Prime Minister’s Office, and with the police shooting tear gas and maneuver cartridges.

The police used water cannons to disperse the protesters, but soon enough, the situation went out of control for both camps. The chaos continued for two hours, until 16:00, when fired shots could be heard.

Within 10 minutes, three people were sent dead at the Military Hospital of Tirana, and then at the morgue.

A doctor, spokesperson of the Military Hospital, announced the death of three protesters, Hekuran Deda, resident of Laknas, Tirana; Faik Myrto, from Fier and Ziver Veizi from Gjirokaster.

After this news and after the dark fell, the protesters left the boulevard, while the police arrested dozens of people by using hard objects and violence.

Berisha, who had remained silent for all the time, appeared in front of the cameras at 19:30, and accused the opposition leader, Edi Rama, of planning a plot for taking over the government building.

“Rama will take full responsibility for what happened. The preliminary data indicate that each of them has been shot from a close distance, with small caliber weapons that cannot be found in the State Police and the National Guard”, Berisha declared one year later.

While the opposition leader, after the situation at the Prime Minister’s Office had ended tragically, appeared on public for asking the people to calm down, and accused the police of provoking the degradation of the situation, and turning the demonstration into a tragedy.

Rama appeared several times in front of the cameras that night and accused PM Berisha, declaring that the brutality used against the protesters shows the opposition’s righteousness.  

“The Prime Minister of Albania, who today is only the representative of a coalition of shame, has stained his hands with innocent blood”, Rama declared.

The US condemned the violence in Albania and expressed their regret for the lost lives.

The European Commission condemned the loss of lives during the protest.

Speaking on behalf of the EU Commissioners Ashton and Fule, the spokesperson, Natasha Butler, declared that the politicians should find the language of dialogue, while the authorities should respect the constitutional right for protesting.

That evening, the media showed the first amateur videos that had captured the murders of the protesters. Two weeks later died in Turkey the fourth protester, Aleks Nika from Lezha.

The January 21st events were followed by many accusations and violations of the law and the Constitution. Two weeks later, the General Prosecution started the investigation and released an arrest order for six National Guard leaders, an order that was never executed by the Police. The General Chief of Police, Hysni Burgaj, refused to respect the order.

“Those who speak about ‘boulevard events’, are nothing more than boulevard scoundrels and hookers”, Berisha declared.

137 protesters were sent at the Tirana Court, 20 of them sentenced from six to 12 months to prison.

While the investigations are still undergoing, no one has been charged for organizing violence or for killing the protesters. In prison is only the National Guard officer, Agim Llupo.

Two days after these events, Berisha summoned an urgent Parliament meeting and the majority established an investigative parliamentary commission, which has given no results until today.

The only thing that concluded was Berisha’s backing off from accusing 4 journalists as participants of a coup, while in this list are still the Prosecutor General, Ina Rama, and the President Bamir Topi.

During these investigations, the General Prosecutor asked the US experts to offer assistance for the case, the results of which have arrived, as confirmed two days ago on Top Channel by the US ambassador, Alexander Arvizu.

Top Channel