Supreme Court closes controversial case of protest murders

TIRANA, April 25 – The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal filed by the prosecution regarding the verdict given by a lower instance court in connection with the killings of four people during an anti-government protest on January 21, 2011. During the protest organized by the Socialist Party, then in opposition, Republican Guard troops opened fire leaving four people dead and wounding several others. The Appeal’s Court had sentenced to one year in prison for manslaughter the former head of the Republican Guard Ndrea Prendi and three years for a former-member of the guard Agim Llupo. The prosecution office had asked for 23 years in prison for Prendi and 25 years for Llupo instead. The two men have since been released as the time spent in detention exceeded their sentences. Unhappy with the verdict, the prosecution filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in October 2013, a request which was turned down by the latter this week. The legal reasoning behind the decision hasn’t been made public yet, but it officially closes a legal process for one of the most serious events that have occurred in the last decade in Albania, leaving much controversy behind. Family members of the victims said they were shocked by the decision and that they would file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg once the court provides legal arguments on its decision. The four victims were shot dead as security forces opened fire in an attempt to push back angry demonstrators, which was described by then Prime Minister as an opposition attempt to stage a coup. Prendi and Llupo were the only former security officers found guilty for shooting at protesters during the rally.