The Chairman of SHIK, Mr. Gazidede, met with Mr. Luan Pobrati in prison
K'J. 20082 [?]
In the announcement by the SHIK spokesperson, broadcast by Albanian Radio and Television, concerning Mr. Pobrati's article in «Zëri i Rinisë», it is stated that Mr. Bashkim Gazidede met with Mr. Luan Pobrati in Elbasan prison. According to the SHIK announcement, this meeting took place to clarify the matter of the unlicensed weapon for which Mr. Pobrati has been accused.
Several hypotheses arise from this. Should the Chairman of the National Intelligence Service have gone in person to meet with the detainee? Is the matter in question within the jurisdiction of the investigating authorities, and if not, has Chairman Gazidede met with the other people detained for unlicensed possession of weapons? If he has not, then why this particular interest in Mr. Pobrati? In any case, these are a few possibilities that perhaps the passage of time will clarify. It is not known whether either side has facts that the other side cannot dispute. According to Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, the interpellation requested by the Socialist group with Mr. Gazidede will take place when he is discharged from the hospital where he has been admitted.
— A short interview with Mr. Luan Pobrati.
In view of what we have said above, as well as the reactions in the press to Mr. Pobrati's testimony in «Zëri i Rinisë», we thought that the matter as a whole was a newsworthy issue of interest. To be as fair as possible, we decided to contact Mr. Pobrati himself about the matter. We found him drinking coffee with several others and, at our request, he agreed to answer two questions.
Question: Mr. Pobrati, what do you think about the impact in the press of the publication of your article?
L. Pobrati: I am aware of the reactions in the party press, «RD» + «ZP», to my article published in «Zëri i Rinisë». It goes without saying that a person who, during his professional activity, has neither used violence nor sentenced even a single person cannot be called a persecutor and a criminal. In the newspaper «RD» I am portrayed as an inquisitor of the intelligentsia and intellectuals, which is absolutely untrue. They are my friends and well-wishers. And I will remain one of them. Epithets like these do not bother me, but a little…
As for the announcement in «ZP», printed in capital letters, which equates the issues I raised with the Serreq-Watergate scandal, I do not think that is fair. I cannot accept it. I had no prejudice or preconceived intention in mind in what I discussed in the «Zëri i Rinisë» article. Others should not try to equate and confuse the issues raised for party-political purposes. I would like to remind «ZP» that I am not a former officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but a former SHIK employee.
Question: What do you think of the actions of the Socialist Party MPs, who have boycotted parliament for several sessions, demanding an interpellation with Mr. Gazidede?
[Text continues outside the frame]
…boycotted parliament, demanding an interpellation with Mr. Gazidede?
L. Pobrati: — I am not a member of any party, and even less can I take it upon myself to prejudge the actions of particular political forces. Within this framework, I cannot know why the PS parliamentary group is boycotting parliament, but as a citizen I can express my own opinion. When the Chairman of the National Intelligence Service is asked to provide explanations in parliament, he should go. And this should not be a reason for the PS parliamentary group not to participate in the discussion on the motion concerning the Prosecutor General and in the continuation of parliament's work.
I will not serve particular political forces, and my article, apart from giving a fair account of what happened, has no other purpose. As long as this is clear to me, it should be clear to others too.
This was our first contact with Mr. Pobrati, and we hope that, after any possible clarification from Mr. Gazidede, we will meet him again. The article published in «Z. i Rinisë» under the title «The Chairman of SHIK, B. Gazidede, demands my conviction» with MPs, politicians and intellectuals» has caused a great stir, and, in addition to the PS group, the PSD group and individual MPs have also requested an interpellation. Nevertheless, the author, Pobrati, seemed very calm.
ARMAND SHKULLAKU