Skënder Gjinushi: “There can be no alibi for the murder of the 9 people from Përmet” Page 2

The news of the mysterious killing of a senior local SHIK official shook almost the entire Tirana press yesterday. The incident, without the details and circumstances needed for a fuller assessment, prompted, as usual, contradictory commentaries. The fact that the victim was one of the key people in unraveling the mystery of the Vlorë revolt leaves room to suspect that the killing had serious motives. Agolli was one of the very few people who could testify about the beginnings of the revolt, its organizers, the presence in the city of some criminal elements who had arrived unexpectedly in mid-February, as well as the orders he had received from headquarters, the state plans to suppress the revolt, and the methods he had been ordered to use for this. But while his sudden death has silenced him forever, filling his family with grief, hardly anyone has publicly asked the question: is it permissible for a senior official, especially the head of a sensitive institution, to leave the country and live as an emigrant in another country? Or, what is the actual status of such an official, and what rules must they follow after their term ends? Being a senior official is, in many cases, an obligation that extends beyond the term of office. A person who has served for several years as President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Interior, Foreign Affairs, head of the secret services, or in a similar position, is required to spend the rest of their civilian life under the state’s protection and to comply with certain rules. The example of the United States, which spends USD 15 million a year protecting the wives of former presidents and an amount 13 times greater protecting former officials of special importance, is not without significance. Albania may currently be the only country in the world where former figures who held the country’s political, military, or diplomatic life in their hands have no obligations whatsoever after leaving office. It is enough to mention that former President Alia, former Minister of Defence Mustafaj, former heads of the secret services in earlier years, former SHIK chief Gazidede, former Deputy Minister of the Interior Shehu, former Guard Commander Xhaferri, etc., have left the country without leaving any address. What is more, some of them could appear at any moment on the screen of a foreign TV channel, as happened with Kico Mustaqi in March, who, from the shoe factory where he worked as a night watchman, astonished the Greeks with his interviews about the Albanian soldier and its potential. This handicap, which has been troubling Albanian political life since 1912, must come to an end. Because citizenship and politics—the power that a political force assumes as the state—do not begin when a political force takes office, nor do they end when it leaves office.

Photo A.BABANI

Multibillionaire George Soros will come to Tirana on 2 October at the invitation of President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani and Prime Minister Nano. Soros is one of the biggest donors to Albanian culture in the pluralist era. His foundation in Tirana has given millions of dollars to Albanian culture, science, and education. At the same time, he has also been the most attacked by a section of the Albanian press that is under the influence of former president Berisha. A.GJ.

On 9 November at the Palace of Congresses, the group “Projekt Jon” will present its newly revived album, recorded in one of Italy’s best-known studios. At 21:00 on 9 November, you will be able to follow the group’s concert live on Albanian radio and TV. Producer Gazibo says optimistically: “This is not just an album, but a film.” The editorial office of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” has reserved 150 free tickets for its readers, which will be distributed by lottery; the lottery will be announced in the newspaper next week.

Minister Malaj speaks after returning from Hong Kong We left Vefa to steal P. 3 Following the Council of Europe resolution on returning to parliament T.Shehu: The request is justified P. 5 Pjetër Arbnori speaks after the hunger strike We ourselves gave Berisha the powers P. 4 Arrests of protesters continue; PD responds Secret services: Paid rallies P. 6 Yesterday, the funeral of the Vlorë secrets emigrant Suspicions over the killing; wife in hospital P. 13 Photos of girls distributed at police stations Return of prostitution raises alarm in the police P. 11 Ramizi, Çelo, Mino in court. The Alia trial continues Genocide charge against those sentenced to death dismissed