As Albania faces a political transition, there is a sense the government and police are not paying enough attention to crime.
TIRANA, July 16 – A series of violent crimes, often within families, have caused concern in Albania, prompting calls that police do more to prevent crime.
A 92-year old man was killed in southernmost Delvina region Tuesday in what appeared to be a crime over property rights conflict. He was killed by his son-in-law.
A day earlier, in Tirana, a 39-year old man shot dead his 36-year-old wife, citing jealousy as a motive. He is in serious condition himself in hospital after he tried to commit suicide.
A 50-year-old man was killed on Sunday evening in Tirana in mafia-style hit believed to be linked in an old row between rival criminal gangs.
In the northern town of Fushe Mamurras, a 28-year old woman was also killed with a knife from her husband, allegedly for jealousy reasons. Last weekend, a divorced woman was killed by her ex husband in Tirana.
On Wednesday, another family fell prey of violence. In northern Bulqiza district a family in dispute over 200 square meters was physically assaulted, Father and son, daughter-in-law and wife were beaten. Injuries included broken legs.
Masked gunmen injured four people, including two children in attempted robbery in the Puke-Shkoder highway.
The series of crimes, all in one week, have caused great concern in public opinion,
The opposition Socialists, who won the June 23 elections, are blaming the outgoing government for sleeping on the job and calling on police authorities to perform the job and not let crime spread in the country.
Albania’s top policeman, Hysni Burgaj, also held a meeting Tuesday with some top policemen from mainly northern Albania calling on them to be on top of their jobs, or face legal repercussions.
As Albania faces a political transition, there is a sense the government and police are not paying enough attention to crime.
The Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha suffered a major defeat in the June 23 elections, with voters handing a landslide victory to the Socialist-led opposition.
The opposition is calling on the outgoing government and police to hold accountable for the country’s law and order and also other temporary management until September when the Socialists take over.
