Republic of Albania
Head of state
Bujar Nishani (replaced Bamir Topi in July)
Head of government
Sali Berisha
The government adopted reforms which restricted the immunity of MPs
and other public officials from prosecution and revised the Electoral
Code, following previous allegations of fraud. In December, the European
Council postponed the granting of EU candidate status to Albania,
conditional on further reform.
Enforced disappearances
In November, proceedings before the Serious Crimes Court concerning
the enforced disappearance in 1995 of Remzi Hoxha, an ethnic Albanian
from Macedonia, and the torture of two other Albanian men, ended with
the conviction of three former state security agents. One of them, Ilir
Kumbaro, who fled extradition proceedings in the UK in 2011, was
sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in his absence. The charges against
his two co-defendants were changed by the court to offences covered by a
1997 amnesty, resulting in them not being sentenced. In December, all
three defendants appealed against their convictions.
Unlawful killings
In May, the trial opened of former Republican Guard commander, Ndrea
Prendi, and former Guard officer, Agim Llupo, charged with killing four
protesters, the injury of two others, and concealing evidence. The
charges arose from violent clashes between police and protesters during
anti-government demonstrations in January 2011 in Tirana.
Torture and other ill-treatment
In June, the UN Committee against Torture expressed concerns about
the lack of effective and impartial investigations by the Ministry of
Interior into alleged ill-treatment by law enforcement officers. The
Committee also reported that basic safeguards against torture were not
provided to people in detention, including timely access to lawyers and
doctors, and noted the excessive length of pre-trial detention.
In July, four prison guards were each fined 3,100 leks (€22) by
Tirana District Court for beating Sehat Doci in Prison 313 in August
2011.
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In September, a group of former political prisoners went on hunger
strike in protest against the government’s prolonged failure to provide
reparations for their imprisonment by the communist government between
1944 and 1991. Thousands were imprisoned or sent to labour camps during
this period and subjected to degrading treatment and, often, torture.
During the 31-day protest, two men set themselves on fire; one, Lirak
Bejko, died of his injuries in November. The Ombudsperson considered the
actions of the Tirana police in denying hunger strikers medicines and
liquids to be an act of torture.
Violence in the family
There were 2,526 reported incidents of domestic violence, 345 more
than in the previous year, and petitions by victims for court protection
orders also increased. Most victims were women. An amendment to the
Criminal Code making violence in the family an offence punishable by up
to five years’ imprisonment came into force in April. However, there was
no minimum sentence for such offences, except when committed repeatedly
and prosecutions could only be initiated on the basis of a victim’s
complaint.
The Director of the National Centre for Victims of Domestic Violence
was dismissed in May, after the Ombudsperson investigated complaints by
women at the Centre that they had been subjected to arbitrary
punishments and restrictions.
Discrimination
Roma
Many Roma continued to be denied their right to adequate housing.
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Some Roma, forced to move from their homes near Tirana railway station
after a 2011 arson attack, were evicted from temporary tented
accommodation. In February, lacking adequate alternative housing, eight
families moved briefly into the premises of the Ombudsperson’s Office.
They were later transferred to disused military barracks. However, their
very poor accommodation and inadequate police protection from threats
and attacks by the neighbouring community obliged them to leave. By the
end of the year, no permanent solution to their housing had been found.
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In July, the livelihoods of an estimated 800 Romani families were
affected when Tirana police implemented an administrative order
prohibiting the collection of scrap and other recyclable materials by
seizing their vehicles and other equipment. The Ombudsperson opened an
inquiry into excessive use of force and ill-treatment by police during
the operation.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people
The first Tirana Pride took place in May. In July, Tirana
Prosecutor’s Office dismissed a criminal complaint by LGBTI
organizations against Deputy Minister of Defence Ekrem Spahiu about his
homophobic remarks concerning the Pride.
Housing rights – orphans
Young people leaving social care remained at risk of homelessness,
despite legislation guaranteeing homeless registered orphans up to the
age of 30 priority access to social housing. Many continued to live in
dilapidated disused school dormitories or struggled to pay for low-grade
private rented accommodation.
