Totozani: January 21st investigations should hurry

In an interview for Top Channel, Totozani asked the acceleration of the January 21st investigations, and the cooperation of all state structures.

TCH: Mr. Totozani, this is your first visit in Brussels as Ombudsman, and you met the European Commission and European Council representatives. What message did the European officials give to you?

Totozani: In all meetings that I had with the representatives of the EU Commission for Foreign Actions, the message was that the Ombudsman is a very important institution for the development of democracy; for defending and promoting the human rights and, as such, it has the full support of the EU structures in several means. We will have the EU support so that the vital role of this institution can prove success for the Albanian citizens.

TCH: Was there any concern raised in these meetings?

Totozani: These meetings were mostly for presenting my vision and that of the Ombudsman for the future.

TCH: What is the opinion of the Ombudsman for January 21st?

Totozani: On January 23rd, the Ombudsman has published a report about everything that happened on January 21st. We are an institution that defends the civilian rights, and for this case, the citizens are asking for justice, especially the relatives of the victims. On January 21st, after 17:00, there have been police brutalities against the citizens, unjustified and non-professional use of violence. A series of human rights have been violated, starting by the failure to have the Ombudsman present, failing to notify the family members, to call a doctor, obstructing civil society institutions from monitoring the state of the detainees – a series of problems that are being identified and that will be mentioned in the report for 2011, which will be published on February 20th. I also invite the Prosecution to continue with the investigations, and all other state institutions that have been part of this serious situation. I invite them to cooperate with the Prosecution, so that the investigations and the trial can conclude as soon as possible, so that justice is served to the citizens who deserve it.

TCH: Have there been other concerns by the citizens, and about what, in general?

Totozani: In these 2-3 weeks we have had a record of complaints, compared to the other years. On the first two weeks of 2011, the Ombudsman has received 20-25 complaints by the citizens, while on the first 2 weeks of 2012 we have received 280 complaints. Their complaints are for several things, mainly for property rights, unfair removal from their state administration job, problems related with prisons and police behavior.

TCH: What solutions have you given?

Totozani: The Ombudsman has its legal procedures and instruments. In some cases, we have made recommendations for the state institutions, which should be implemented. As you know, the Ombudsman’s recommendations are the 12th criterion for the EU candidate status. In some cases we have started investigations, such as for the property conflict in Vlore, between some citizens and the National Guard. We are concluding the investigations and will come with our respective conclusions and recommendations. We have also undertaken a series of other activities, such as visits to the flooded communes that have not received indemnities. We have numerous activities.

Prepared by: ARTA TOZAJ

Top Channel