January 21st, arrest order for National Guard Commander

On the top of the list are the National Guard Commander, Ndrea Prendi, then his driver, Margarit Kume, and the head of the IT at the Prime Minister’s Office, Armando Kasa.

The court considered as legal and professional the examination conducted by the FBI, and the procedures that were followed, but issued house arrest for the three above-mentioned persons, until a second decision will be taken. The only problem, according to the court, is that when the Prosecution seized the Beretta pistol at the National Guard, there wasn’t signed if the gun belonged to Ndrea Prendi or his driver, Margarit Kume.

Ina Rama: I only did my duty as Prosecutor

The General Prosecutor, Ina Rama, held a press release in which she declared that the investigations for the January 21st events will continue, while giving the details of the work that has been done so far.

“The ballistic examinations showed that the personal gun of Ndrea Prendi has shot 11 times against the crowd. One of them has caused the death of Faik Myrtaj. After this, Prendi has changed the pistol barrel with that of his driver, Margarit Kume, aiming to obstruct the investigations from finding the author. The other modifications made by Prendi have been discovered by the FBI experts”, Rama declared.

The Prosecution declared that there were discovered interventions at the Prime Minister’s Office computer system, where data have been deleted. 11 cameras had been filming with high quality images when the protest was taking place, but they haven’t been sent to the Prosecution. The Prime Minister’s Office Chief IT, Armando Kasa, has technically undertaken these actions by obstructing the investigation and by abusing with his duty”, Rama declared.

The Prosecutor Ina Rama added that the Prosecution asked imprisonment for the National Guard commander, Ndrea Prendi, his driver, Margarit Kume, and the IT Chief, Armando kasa, for undertaking highly dangerous actions, but the Tirana Court gave only house arrest.

The Prosecution underlined that the investigations must continue with some Socialist MPs.

“The General Prosecution has asked permission by the Parliament to remove the immunity of the Socialist MPs, Besnik Baraj, Tom Doshi and Taulant Balla, and taking them under investigation”, Ina Rama declared.

The General Prosecutor explained that her role on the January 21st investigations has only been that of the General Prosecutor, and she underlined that there has been no cooperation with the opposition leader, Edi Rama.

Arvizu: We welcome today’s events

The US Ambassador, Alexander Arvizu, declared that the FBI examination report offers a solid base for the January 21st investigation.

Arvizu underlined that the US government welcomes today’s events, and supports the General Prosecution for the following investigations.

“On the days after January 21st, the USA, on request of the Albanian General Prosecution, accepted to offer assistance for the scientific and technical examination of the evidence, in order to help justice with this case. The US government welcomes today’s developments and we will continue to support the Prosecution General while the investigations are undergoing”, Arvizu declared.

The US ambassador underlined that they have been engaged for an independent and just investigation. He guaranteed that the investigations will continue and will be all-inclusive.

“Certainly, the investigations are continuing for the protesters who initiated violent acts, and also for the organizers’ intentions. There will be an investigation for justice obstruction, which we also support. It is clear that our support has been stable and secure”, Arvizu underlined.

Berisha: General Prosecutor manipulated evidence

Prime Minister Berisha underlined that the Prosecutor General has cooperated with the opposition leader and has manipulated the January 21st investigation evidence.

“Mr. Berisha demands a full investigation of the January 21st events. The organizers will take their responsibility”, the DP Spokesperson declared. According to her, the National Guard Commander, Ndrea Prifti, has been suspended from his duty and replaced with Colonel Artan Hoxha.

The Spokesperson declared that the Prime Minister trusts that the solution of this case is a major condition for the rule of law to prevail.

FBI experts in Tirana

The arrest orders were released after the FBI expert team arrived in Tirana with the scientific examination results of the January 21st evidence.

After visiting the General Prosecution of Tirana, from where was released the arrest order for the head of the National Guard, his driver and the Prime Minister’s Office IT, the experts have contacted with the Albanian investigation team.

The Court of Tirana considered this examination as legal and was submitted as evidence.

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