TIRANA TIMES
Few Albanians can forget the massive explosion three years ago in the village of Gerdec that killed 24 people, including children.
The men on trial for the actions that led to the explosion have now been allowed to leave jail as their trial continues thanks to legal maneuvers that made their trial so long, their continued detention is no longer legal. They used every delay possible through their lawyers to get out of jail. And now they have won.
Their release is not just offensive, it is also risky as it lays bare how badly law and justice function in Albania.
Though they may still be found guilty by the courts, the fact that people accused of such a grave crime are allowed to walk free as their trial continues to be delayed, pushed and challenged is a further step toward a miscarriage of justice in the Gerdec case.
The first step was of course the fact that the former defense minister escaped charges against him altogether, shamefully hiding behind his parliamentary immunity. Fatmir Mediu, the man who held a lot of responsibility for what happened, managed to escape facing justice using technicalities and finally the regaining his immunity as a member of parliament after being stripped of it once. The former defense minister was even awarded with a new cabinet post, now serving as minister of the environment.
Michael Schmidt-Neke, a historian specializing in Albanian and Balkan affairs points out that in Albania there is a culture of irresponsibility, delegating responsibility to others, often by way of bribery and corruption.
“The tragedy of Gerdec is the worst symbol for that. I cannot imagine that in Germany a minister in charge of defence who bears at least the political responsibility (if not more) for such a disaster is forced to resign, only to return into another government portfolio after hardly more than one year,” he notes, explaining the absurdity of Mr. Mediu’s situation.
That absurdity is now carried on by the main political parties in Albania who are accusing each other that they exerted political pressure on the trial to set the accused men free.
Often corruption goes unpunished because it seems like a victimless crime, though it perpetuates poverty for many while filling the pockets of few.
However, in Gerdec we have a clear example of how corruption can lead to the loss of innocent lives. The parents of the six children killed there need answers from the justice system.
Unfortunately, the release of the other men charged in the explosion is a painful reminder that corruption has crippled not only the right of people to live free from harm but also the justice system’s ability to do its job.
For now, the shameful miscarriage of justice where the Gerdec trial is headed remains the beacon of why Albanians continue to suffer through a nonfunctioning rule of law.
To put it simply, the Tirana court decision last week is a triumph for corruption and crime.
