Socialist MP Eduart Shalsi has commented on the protests that erupted in Tirana following the incident in Zvërnec, where a citizen was allegedly dragged by authorities.
Shalsi revealed that he had initially considered joining the protest after being invited by a friend, but changed his mind after seeing mothers attending with their children.
“At first, a friend invited me to the protest, and I was ready to join. However, when I saw mothers with children there, I reconsidered. We were outraged, but not surprised, and I’ll explain why,” Shalsi said.
The Socialist lawmaker argued that similar incidents have occurred in many countries around the world, including the United States. He pointed to the case of George Floyd, which sparked global protests against police violence.
“When people ask where such things happen, I remind them of the police case in America that shocked the world. My concern is that some events in Albania are portrayed as if they could only happen here, when in reality similar incidents occur elsewhere. What matters is how the state responds,” he stated.
According to Shalsi, Albanian authorities reacted by dismissing the police director, revoking licenses, and making arrests related to the case.
He also addressed questions regarding land ownership disputes in Zvërnec, saying that the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) is reviewing the documentation and legal procedures related to property ownership in the area.
“The government cannot overturn court decisions. What it can do is provide any indications or evidence to the competent authorities. In this case, SPAK has collected the relevant documentation and will determine whether the land ownership process complied with the law,” Shalsi said.
