High Court decision paves way for SPAK to investigate 21 January killings
In response to a case filed by the mother of one of the victims killed by the Guard of the Republic during the January 21, 2011 protest against the government of then-Prime Minister Sali Berisha, the High Court has ruled that the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) must investigate the killings of four opposition protesters.
Why is this relevant
Thirteen years have passed since the killing of four innocent protesters by the Guard of the Republic. The Socialist Party, then in opposition, called the killings a state crime. Despite public outrage and continuous demands for accountability from those responsible for ordering the killings, there has been no proper investigation and accountability to date. With the High Court’s decision, prosecutors from SPAK will now seek to identify the individuals responsible for the deaths of the four protesters.
Context
Regarding the events of January 21, the Albanian justice system has found the former Commander of the Guard of the Republic and one guard guilty of the murder of two out of the four victims. However, prompted by the victims’ families, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has mandated a thorough investigation into the “January 21” incidents.
Both the victims’ families and the current Socialist government, formerly in opposition, continue to demand accountability for those who ordered the Guard to open fire on the protesters. They accuse former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and former Minister of Interior Lulzim Basha of giving the orders for the killings, citing the chain of command within the Guard and their statements and actions at the time.
In 2011, prosecutors investigating the murders were denied access to the Prime Minister’s Office, where the shots were fired as the protesters dispersed, using live ammunition against the law. Prosecutors also discovered that all servers containing security camera footage in the Prime Minister’s Office had been mysteriously wiped clean, hindering investigation efforts.
Immediately after news of the killings broke, Prime Minister Berisha held a press conference alleging that the protesters had been killed by others within the crowd. He also accused the President—a fellow party appointee—the Prosecutor General, and the opposition leader of conspiring to overthrow him.
The January 21 protest aimed to demand the removal from power of Sali Berisha and his ally, Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta, who had been captured on video discussing a 700 thousand euro bribe in exchange for a license for a hydroelectric power plant with his Energy Minister.
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