A Tirana court has ruled the former Guard of Republic commander and a senior officer are innocent of homicide charges stemming from the killing of four protesters at violent 2011 opposition protest in front of Prime Minister’s Office. Opposition, family members outraged by the ruling
TIRANA, Feb. 7 – A Tirana court has given not guilty verdicts for two Guard of the Republic officers accused of killing four protesters during the violent opposition protest of Jan 21, 2011.
The Tirana Serious Crimes Court ruled that the former commander of the Guard of the Republic Ndrea Prendi and Senior Offer Agim Llupo were innocent of charges of homicide.
Judge Besnik Hoxha said prosecutors had not proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Commander Prendi and Senior Officer Llupo were the ones who had shot dead four people at the Socialist Party protest against alleged corruption and vote-rigging by Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government.
Prosecutors had asked 23 years imprisonment for Prendi and 25 years for Llupo.
Prendi’s driver, another guard officer, Margarit Kumi, was acquitted of charges of concealing evidence.
As of press time, there was no immediate reaction from prosecutors Thursday as to whether they would appeal the verdict.
Prime Minister Sali Berisha has denied claims that he authorized police to use lethal force and accused the opposition of staging the 2011 protest in attempt to seize power.
But the verdict is likely to serve as a rallying political point for the opposition against the Democratic Party-run government.
Last month, the opposition held a silent protest to commemorate the four dead.
Opposition Socialist lawmaker Saimir Tahiri said in the parliament that the court verdict was as if the four were killed again. He also pledged that the Jan. 21 victims will find justice in the future, hinting after the Socialists came to power following the June 23 parliamentary election.
Opposition Socialist lawmakers abandoned the parliament’s session after the verdict, saying the decision was a political travesty.
“On behalf of the families of the four Jan. 21 victims, we pledge that you will not escape justice,” Socialist lawmaker Saimir Tahiri, pointing to those accused.
Democratic Party parliamentary speaker Jozefina Topalli cut Tahiri off, telling him only under communism political trials took place in parliament.
“When justice speaks, you should keep silent,” said Topalli.
Socialist leader Edi Rama reacted after the verdict, saying, “I assure the families of the four martyrs that their death cannot be forgotten without a fair trial and the case would not end under an an unfair judgment.”
Rama added each Albanian should be aware that this is “a murderous government” ahead of the June 23 parliamentary election.
Berisha declined to react on the case, saying he would never comment on a court ruling.
Speaking to private News 24 television station, Renato Myrtaj, son of one of the dead, said the verdict made him feel “buried alive.” He added the families did not accept the court’s ruling and hinted at vigilante vengeance.
“They can kill me too, but there’s a big family behind,” he said. “This country’s tradition says that blood is paid with blood.”
Similar comments had been earlier made by Zabit Deda, brother of one of the other dead protesters.
The spokesman of the Prosecutor General’s office Albi Serani declined to say whether prosecutors would appeal Thursday’s ruling, saying they would first read the detailed verdict and then evaluate further moves.
The international community had earlier called on the Albanian judiciary to speed the trial process, which started in May last year and dragged on more than usual.
In a statement late Thursday the U.S. Embassy in Tirana, which had assisted in the investigation, said it was dismayed by the ruling.
“Shortly after January 21, 2011, the United States, as a friend and supporter of the Albanian people, responded to an urgent request by the Government of Albania and the Office of the Prosecutor General for assistance in investigating the killings. The United States provided extensive assistance, including expertise from the world-class Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab,” the statement said. “Throughout the adjudication of this case, the United States has repeatedly and consistently called for a thorough, comprehensive and objective investigation and judicial process. Regrettably, today’s verdict has undermined confidence in the ability and willingness of the Albanian judicial system to deliver justice in an impartial, transparent manner.”
