Ombudsman says police are following, detaining without reason men from a group of former political prisoners knows for extreme protests like self-immolation.
TIRANA, May 1 – Albania’s ombudsman has called on the country’s top policeman to stop ongoing surveillance on former political prisoners who have complained of harassment.
Ombudsman Igli Totozani said that four people who had been imprisoned under the communist regime had complained of being perpetually molested, followed and harassed by law enforcement officials since last fall when they led a hunger strike asking for financial compensation for their suffering.
Totozani called on State Police Chief Hysni Burgaj to stop policemen following the men or taking them to the police station anytime there are rallies of the governing Democrats.
Police have not accepted they are following the ex-persecuted but the ombudsman said they had already confirmed their claim. Last year, three men from the same group set themselves on fire and one later died in hospital.
They claim they are not getting compensated from the government for suffering under the communist regime.
Based on the data from the Interior Ministry, during the former communist regime from 1944 to 1990 5,157 people were executed and 9,052 died while in prison for opposing the regime, while 17,900 others were imprisoned and 30,383 were interned in remote areas.
Some 19,250 other people were punished with forced labour or deprived of their properties. Albania had some 40 prisons and 50 internment camps.
