The Prosecution’s decision for suspending the investigations against the
former Minister of Economy, Genc Ruli, about the chrome concessionary
agreement, was probably expected for those who recognize the justice
system of Albania.
The justice has never dared touching politically empowered politicians, and Ruli’s case was the next evidence that Albania’s politicians are untouchable.
But while the decision was expected, the absurd is related with the Prosecution’s forced arguments for justifying it. The official documents say that “the investigations are suspended after Mr.Ruli’s actions have caused no economic damage to the state”.
Through this argument, the Prosecution tells the public that by postponing and not respecting an investment deadline, you don’t cause an economic damage. If the Prosecution’s claims would stand, the Albania state would have no need to use investment deadlines for the concessionary agreements. The mines, the hydropower plants and all public assets would be given to private operators without any construction deadline or investment plan, leaving everything on their good will and desire.
But the deadlines are set because any investment delay creates considerable economic damages to the state and its citizens. On the case of the mining industry, the investments are more vital, because they are directly related with the life safety of the miners.
The former Minister of Economy allowed the DARFO Company to postpone the 13 million EUR safety investments, and in the meantime, dozens of miners have lost their lives.
But it seems that for the prosecution it is no damage that dozens of miners were buried alive in the unsafe galleries.
Secondly, the Prosecution is telling the public that there is no economic damage by postponing the delay penalties, which mount to 1.7 million EUR, all postponed with Ruli’s signature and that should be in the budget. And for compensating them, the government was obliged to loan the money from somewhere else, which is paid not only with interest, but also with the inflation damage.
Besides the easily opposed arguments, the Prosecution’s decision to suspend the case created a “de facto” and “de jure” dangerous precedent in Albania, and now every state official will be able to change with his signature an agreement that has been voted by 140 MPs that represent the people, and he would be committing no crime or decision to be investigated.
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