OSCE concerned about G쳤ec proceedings

TIRANA, June 16 – Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, expressed his concern on the prolongation of the G쳤ec case, in which 26 people died following the explosion at a disposal ammunition plant three years ago.
A statement said that the OSCE Presence in Albania was following closely the ongoing criminal proceedings in the so-called G쳤ec case.
“I am concerned that this process appears not to be progressing in full compliance with fair trial principles, as enshrined in the Constitution and relevant domestic legislation,” he said.
Wollfarth added that “the repeated non-appearance of defence lawyers at the hearings is an abuse of any justice system.”
The 152nd hearing held on Wednesday lasted only 20 minutes when the court postponed the hearing due to the absence of an overwhelming number of defendants and legal counsels.
The case seems far from being finalized, with most court sessions not having taken place.
“Continued delays will only serve to further undermine much-needed confidence in the justice system, and more widely in the rule of law in Albania – especially in this highly sensitive case.
I urgently call upon all relevant legal authorities to undertake all possible efforts, within the legal framework, to ensure that a fair and public hearing of this case is concluded within a reasonable time.”
The opposition blames the explosions in Gerdec, near Tirana in 2008, on corrupt officials in the ruling coalition. They say the officials ignored the safety of workers while profiting from the disposal of obsolete weapons from China and Russia.
Albania’s former Defense Minister, army chief of staff and 26 officials have been charged over the blasts.
Since then, however, the former Defense Minister, now Environment Minister Fatmir Mediu, has been cleared of the charges as he enjoys parliamentary immunity.