Police violence toward citizens and media representatives is intolerable and punishable

Tirana, February 19, 2006 

Following the denunciation of police violence toward inhabitants of the Nepravishtë village, Gjirokastër, another case of violence was recorded, this time on reporter of Gazeta Shqiptare and NEWS 24 television Gerti Xhaja and his father, on February 18, 2006, in Lushnje. To date, the responsibility of those who caused the violence on Nepravishtë village inhabitants, whereas in the case of violence used toward the reporter and his father, a quick and complete investigation of those responsible and their punishment was requested.

The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC) does not prejudice the legal basis of the control carried out in the bar of reporter Gerti Xhaja’s parent. However, the use of violence toward them at the moment of control, while accompanying them to the police commissariat, and while they were in the Lushnje police commissariat premises is viewed by the AHC as arbitrary and punishable.

It is noteworthy that the reporter claims he was maltreated in the presence of the police commissariat’s chief of crimes. In the opinion of the AHC, should this claim be true, that fact alone represents a very troubling indicator that, among other things, has a very negative impact on citizens’ trust in the law and institutions charged to respect and protect citizens’ rights.

There are reports that violence was used toward citizen Gerti Xhaja even after it was made clear to the police that he was a reporter by profession. This fact makes the mentioned act even more serious and uglier.

During the past year, the AHC reacted several times toward such cases of violence and reaches the conclusion that, in terms of police respect for citizens’ rights, preventive measures have not been and are not still at the required level.

The AHC deems it necessary to emphasize that pursuant to the law and in the context of the fight against crime in general, and organized crime in particular, competent bodies, when necessary, carry out controls on houses and bars, they may accompany individuals to police stations, detain, or arrest certain persons. However, the arbitrariness, insult of a person’s dignity, psychological and physical violence are intolerable, unjustifiable, and punishable.

The Albanian Helsinki Committee calls upon the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that it should not handle such recurring cases as separated displays, but as a phenomenon that requires profound and thorough analysis, giving priority to prevention through concrete and effective measures.

In closing, the AHC deems it necessary to underscore and suggest to the relevant bodies of the Ministry of Interior and spokespeople of this Ministry that, in cases of citizens’ denunciations of commissions of acts of criminal offences by police officers, in their statements to the press or the media they should be restrained, particularly regarding issues that involve these citizens’ evidence, motives, guilt, or innocence.

The AHC once again reminds these bodies that the sole body that carries out criminal prosecution is the prosecutor’s office and the body that renders justice is the court only.