Judge Irena Gjoka, of the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, which reviews cases involving high public and political positions, granted the prosecutor’s request to place the former ruler under house arrest after Berisha’s failure in the bi government. weekly periodic presentation to which he was subject.
The former prime minister was also not allowed to travel abroad.
The former prime minister’s lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, said the court has issued a new restriction against 79-year-old Berisha, who is now banned from communicating with third parties except family members he lives with. The lawyer says he will appeal the decision.
According to Berisha’s lawyers, no new evidence was presented or new accusations made to justify the changes issued or the prosecutors’ request for house arrest: “In this case, none of the legal criteria necessary to impose coercive measures have been met or to worsen.”
Albanian media reported the arrival of police at the apartment building where Berisha lives in central Tirana, with the former prime minister responding via Facebook, stating that he will “continue to work and fight for democracy every minute, in every way possible.” to recover”.
Last week, the Albanian parliament voted to lift Berisha’s legal immunity, with deputies loyal to the former prime minister attempting to boycott the vote.
Berisha criticized the investigation against him and classified his detention as a political repression ordered by incumbent Prime Minister Edi Rama, warning of “strong protests”.
Depriving Sali Berisha of the right to communicate could become a broader political issue as he is the leader of the main opposition party.
In a press conference held after today’s court ruling was announced, a leader of the Democratic Party, Luciano Boci, called on Albanians to continue the struggle “today or never” for the “restoration of political pluralism and the deserved punishment of Edi Rama”.
In October, the Public Prosecution Service opened an investigation into Berisha for allegedly abusing his position to help his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, privatize public land to build seventeen apartment complexes.
The Public Prosecution Service has not yet filed formal charges in court and Berisha is still under investigation.
Edi Rama declined to comment on the court’s decision to place Berisha under house arrest, but said that “detention of anyone from any political party is never a victory for any party.”
“Parties win elections to advance the country and are not military organizations that act to eliminate opponents,” Rama said.
Berisha was Prime Minister of Albania from 2005 to 2013 and President of the country from 1992 to 1997. In 2021, he was re-elected deputy of the Democratic Party in the parliamentary elections.
The US in May 2021 and the UK in July 2022 denied Berisha and close family members entry to these countries due to their alleged involvement in corruption.
Source: DN
