TIRANA, Dec. 19 – Albania’s former army chief of staff, Luan Hoxha, who is wanted in Albania over charges in the Gerdec case, has been granted political asylum in the United States, his Albanian lawyer told local media.
Ibrahim Lahi, the lawyer, told several Albanian media Hoxha is still appealing his conviction in absentia, but he has gained political asylum in the U.S. and should no longer be sought by authorities.
Hoxha is still among the wanted persons that the Albanian authorities are seeking internationally through Interpol.
Hoxha has been sentenced from the Appeals Court with five years’ imprisonment for the Gerdec blast in 2008 which killed 26 persons. The blast occurred at a private factory disposing the armed forces’ ammunition. Lahi said that he has appealed the case at the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
Lawyer: Former army chief has been given U.S. political asylum
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