JANUARY 21 / The prosecutor’s request for Balla, Bare and Doshi is published The protesters’ messages to the rally organizers are revealed. - Ruçi to Topalli: You have killed four people The Speaker of Parliament: You frightened all of Tirana. The head of armaments in the Guard: The pistol used for the killing was held by Prendi News The General Prosecutor’s Office requested five days ago criminal proceedings against three PS deputies, Tom Doshi, Taulant Balla and Besnik Baraj, as organizers of the illegal gathering on January 21, 2011, in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. Tirana Arben Rozhani The General Prosecutor’s Office requested three days ago that Parliament lift the immunity of the three PS deputies, Tom Doshi, Taulant Balla and Besnik Baraj, as organizers of the illegal gathering on January 21, 2011, in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. In the request signed by the Prosecutor General, Ina Rama, several pieces of information taken from mobile phones are highlighted, showing Doshi or Balla directing demonstrators in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, while Deputy Baraj is accused of failing to take measures for the gathering, which later degenerated into killing and violence. Prosecutor General Rama made the request for criminal proceedings against the deputies public three days ago when she asked Parliament for permission to carry out some investigative actions. “In order to fully clarify the position of deputies Besnik Baraj, Tom Doshi and Taulant Balla in relation to the events of January 21, 2011, for the criminal offense of ‘Organization and participation in illegal assemblies and demonstrations’, there arises a... continues on pages 2-3 In the photo: PS deputy Tom Doshi in front of the Prime Minister’s Office on January 21, 2011

Editorial BY AFRIM KRASNIQI Deformed parliamentarism Albania has a parliament, 140 deputies, indirectly elected through the parties’ proportional lists. They exercise civic sovereignty and have a political mandate to initiate and vote on any law or other act defined by the Constitution as a parliamentary matter. They enjoy constitutional immunity, political immunity, and, in our transition conditions, also a strong public immunity. They elect the president, the government, the prosecutor general, the constitutional court, the supreme court, the head of the bank and the State Supreme Audit Institution, several dozen high-ranking officials of the state pyramid, and every year they review the work of 13-15 high constitutional institutions. They have unlimited access to public debates, receive a large share of media headlines every day, are part of every international discussion table and, in the end, they hold the monopoly on decision-making for every major political decision, including changes to the Constitution. They enjoy constitutional immunity, political immunity, and, in our transition conditions, also a strong public immunity. In any democratic country, this parliamentary superpower would be enough to create a balancing relationship between the public and parliamentarians: the former through positive pressure and demands, the latter through the obligation to offer alternative solutions. When things do not work well, the public complains, raises the critical tone, and even seeks democratic mechanisms to correct the political elite that disappoints it. In Albania, something different has happened and continues to happen. Here we do not have a balancing public–parliamentary relationship, but a contradictory one and an attempt by parliament to... continues on page 5

INTERVIEW Arben Çuko, former Guard commander and PS deputy speaks about January 21 Tirana The former Guard commander and PS deputy, Arben Çuko, holds Prime Minister Berisha responsible for the killings of January 21, 2011, saying that he ordered the former Guard commander, Ndrea Prendi, to shoot together with his subordinates. He accused Prendi of violating the Guard law by... continues on page 4 In the photo: Former Guard commander and PS deputy, Arben Çuko

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EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENTS Pages 12-13

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The debate on “Opinion” Page 6 Doda to Tahiri: If you come near the Prime Minister’s Office, you’ll be hung on a palm tree

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