TIRANA, Oct. 2 – The Serious Crimes Prosecution gave its pretense for the accused Emiljano Shullazi criminal group on Tuesday, proposing 17 years of imprisonment for Emiljano, 15 years for Gilmandon Dani, 11 years for Endrit Qyqan and Endrit Zela and ten years for Blerim Shullazi.
Although the accused were not present at the court under the claim they have fallen ill, strict court security measures were not absent, much like in the first hearing that was postponed last Wednesday, and police officers surrounded the premises from the early morning hours.
The Shullazi process has attracted a lot of attention after the replacement of the cases’ prosecutor, who is on a long-term sick leave, caused debate in the Serious Crimes Prosecution last week.
A group of ten prosecutors refused to participate in the draw that would decide who will replace their colleague Ened Nakuci, which was followed by the initiation of a disciplinary investigation against them ordered by Chief Prosecutor Arta Marku, while three prosecutors were transferred outside Tirana.
Emiljano Shullazi, a notorious underworld figure in Albania, is accused of a string of offenses, among which blackmailing businesses to pay large sums of money or handing over their properties for free during the last three years under the protection of the left-wing government and Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to the country’s opposition.
Shullazi has been mentioned by the US Embassy to Albania as one of the “big fish” that need to be caught by the reformed justice system. One day before the hearing that would seek his imprisonment, the embassy told the Voice of America the Albanian people deserve a justice system where police and prosecutors stay united against criminals and added it “supports the brave prosecutors who seek justice, even when there are risks involved.”
