The main match of the 21st week of the Superior League, between Tirana
and Skenderbeu, will be remembered for the unprecedented police violence
inside and outside the stadium.
Top-Channel’s cameraman was also beaten by the police, stopped from filming and taken to Tirana’s Police District no.1, where he was beaten by high-rank police officers.
The constant violence of the police has not only ruined a football match, which is supposed to be an entertainment event, but violence even against members of the media has reminded to everyone the dark time of many years ago.
The incident between the football fans and police started during the break, when Police entered violently and attacked Tirana supporters and arrested many of them.
While the rest of the supporters were protesting for the liberation of some of their friends, the police have also taken Top Channel’s cameraman, who was waiting outside for the arrested supporters to come out.
If blocking the media from doing its job wasn’t enough, the cameraman has been violently attacked by the vice director of the Tirana Police, Erzen Brecani. The cameraman was released after signing a declaration in which violence is nowhere to be read, but the violence marks are evident on his face and eye.
Top Channel has addressed a letter to the Interior Minister, Flamur Noka, which was also sent to Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Top Channel protests through this letter about the violence used against their cameraman by the vice director of the Tirana Police, Erzen Becani, inside the Police District premises.
Top Channel has condemned the violence and asked the Interior Minister to take the necessary measures against the abusers in uniforms.
“The violence against the cameraman while he was doing his job, especially within the Police District premises, by a high rank State Police official, is a very unprecedented event. The highest law enforcers, people whose duty is exactly to respect the law and guarantee the citizens’ life, have used infringed the law in a very unprecedented way, creating an unprovoked climate of tension and the media, especially Top Channel. Violence used against the media employees falls against the Prime Minister’s declaration who has publicly positioned himself as friend of journalists and lover of the free speech.
One day after the attack, the Police were obliged to come up with a press release after Top Channel had reported the event on the news, but they didn’t help to clarify the situation.
“Regarding the claim that police directors have used violence a journalist, we declare that he was taken in the police district because he refused to identify himself. No violence was used and after the identification that lasted 8 minutes he was immediately released. The Police has the obligation to secure the public order, prevent disorders in sportive environments and establish order”, declared Arben Nasufi, assistant director of the Tirana Police, who refused to answer to the journalists.
The declaration of the Tirana Police is shameful, and rather than explaining the situation and apologize publicly for the violence, they only take more guilt and reduce the credibility of this important institution.
Top Channel rejects these declarations as untrue, and states with full responsibility that the cameraman Gent Balla has identified himself and has not broken any law or rule.
Journalist Union reacts
The Journalist Union reacted about this incident, saying that this event and others warn of a very bad climate between the reporters who work among very difficult conditions to report every event in environments of massive activities, not only electoral.
The violence used against cameraman Gent Balla is unacceptable and the Journalist Union asks the Police Authorities to be careful in their relation with the journalists.
Rama: Violence against the cameraman, unprecedented
The Socialist Party leader, Edi Rama, declared that this is an unprecedented action in Europe. While presenting the program for culture and sport in Korce, Rama declared that these things happen only in countries under dictatorship.
“Everyone saw and heard yesterday’s news, when the Tirana football fans were beaten in the stadium because they chanted against the government. The attacks were also taken against the cameramen. I don’t believe that there is a country in the world where police is the one that attacks fans. I don’t think that this has ever happened in a Democratic country. I believe that this is a unique case, since Albania is not a democratic country”, Rama declared.
Top Channel
