The Albanian Helsinki Committee has asked the Jordan Misja Penitentiary Institution to end the restrictions on Ilir Meta's meetings with members of the Albanian Parliament and the European Parliament. The AHC says it has been made aware of the complaints made by MP Tedi Blushi and Ilir Meta regarding the non-permission to hold these meetings.

In the letter addressed to the institution, the Albanian Helsinki Committee states that the restriction was made without providing a reasoned decision or the legal basis on which it was based.

AHC recalls that this issue was addressed earlier during the monitoring conducted at the “Jordan Misja” Penitentiary Institution. According to the organization, in the recommendations addressed to the institution through a letter dated April 27, 2026, it was assessed that the restriction of meetings of pre-detainees with MPs raised serious concerns about the respect of rights guaranteed by law.

In particular, AHC refers to Article 51 of Law No. 81/2020 “On the rights and treatment of prisoners and detainees”.

The Albanian Helsinki Committee says that after previous recommendations it had found a positive impact on the practice followed by the institution.

For this reason, the alleged return of the same practice raises concerns for AHC, which seeks to learn whether factual circumstances have changed that would justify a different approach from that followed following previous recommendations.

In the letter, AHC requests information from the "Jordan Misja" Penitentiary Institution on the claims of Ilir Meta and Tedi Blushi, also referring to Law No. 119/2014 "On the Right to Information".

"Thanking you for your cooperation so far, we await an official response from you," the Albanian Helsinki Committee's letter concludes.

Letter:
The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), in fulfillment of its mission to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, has been made aware of the complaints from Mr. Tedi Blushi, Member of the Albanian Parliament, and Mr. Ilir Meta, President of the Freedom Party, through which concerns are raised regarding the non-permission to hold meetings of the latter with Members of the Albanian Parliament and Members of the European Parliament, without a reasoned decision or legal basis on which this restriction is based.
AHC would like to recall that this issue has been addressed earlier in the framework of the monitoring carried out at the “Jordan Misja” Penitentiary Institution, as well as in the recommendations addressed to your institution through letter no. 151 prot., dated 27.04.2026, where, among other things, it was assessed that the limitation of meetings of detainees with MPs raises serious concerns in relation to the respect of rights guaranteed by law, especially by article 51 of law no. 81/2020 “On the rights and treatment of prisoners and detainees”. Following this monitoring process and institutional correspondence, AHC has concluded that there was a positive impact on the practice followed by the institution.
Precisely for this reason, the alleged return of the same practice raises concern and requires clarification for the persons involved, especially if the factual circumstances have changed that would justify a different approach from that followed following the previous recommendations. As above, in compliance with Law No. 119/2014 “On the Right to Information”, AHC would appreciate your information on the allegations of Mr. Ilir Meta and Mr. Tedi Blushi.
Please find attached, for your information, the letters cited above.
Thanking you for your cooperation so far, we await an official response from you!