Democratic Party MP Klevis Balliu has accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of being behind the violence against students and youth during the protests in Tirana. In a statement to the media, Balliu claimed that State Police leaders are being used to justify interventions against protesters and to criminalize the youth movement.
Referring to the statement of the Director of the Department of Public Security, Dhimitraq Ziu, the Democratic MP claimed that it was prepared by the Prime Minister with the aim of avoiding responsibility for the violence reported during the protests.
Balliu said that the Police statement did not mention the cases where, according to him, young people were dragged and hit with punches, kicks and rubber batons. He also filed charges of violence against minors aged 14 and 15 at the police station, demanding an investigation into these allegations.
Full statement:
Edi Rama ordered violence against students and today brought out Dhimitraq Ziu to read his statement to criminalize Albanian youth!
Edi Rama today brought out Dhimitraq Ziu, the Director of the Department of Public Security, to read the statement prepared by him, with the aim of attacking students and criminalizing young people who are protesting against his government. Instead of giving an account for the barbaric violence exercised against students, Edi Rama uses the leaders of the Police to justify the crimes of his police and to cover up his own responsibility.
The orders for this violence come from Edi Rama. The political and institutional responsibility for what is happening falls on him and on the chain of command that carries out his orders. Students are being violated to protect the power of a prime minister who seeks to escape responsibility for the crimes and corruption of his government.
The statement read by Dhimitraq Ziu was missing the most serious truth: Albanian students and young people were dragged, kicked, punched and beaten with rubber batons. The barbaric acts of violence in police stations, where 14- and 15-year-old children were raped by police officers of this regime, were missing.
There was no mention of the collective torture of Albanian children, who were laid on the ground and collectively raped. These are criminal acts that cannot be covered up with press conferences or justified by any political order.
The truth was missing about the criminal exponents and soldiers of Suel Çela's gang, who have transformed into civilians to attack Albanian youth and children in the most brutal way. These thugs appear armed at protests and exert pressure on citizens, while Edi Rama's government uses the Police to hit students.
Also missing was the fact that business representatives have stated that the businesses were not attacked by students, but by government civilians. Edi Rama and the police leaders must answer for these events and for the people who have exercised violence against citizens.
Every time a criminal group is targeted, its connections with police leaders and segments of state institutions come to light. This is the scheme of a captured state, where political power, crime, and segments of security structures act in the function of protecting each other's interests.
Today, Albanian children are being raped to protect Edi Rama from responsibility. Today, the blood of young people is being shed on the streets of Albania to protect Edi Rama's power, corruption and money.
In my capacity as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Internal Affairs and Defense, I request the urgent launch of an investigation into Edi Rama and the entire chain of command of the State Police, for the orders given and the acts of violence committed against Albanian students and minors. It must be investigated who gave the orders, who carried them out, and who is responsible for the violence on the streets and in police stations. No political order can justify the violation of the law and violence against children.
The Democratic Party is the party founded by the students of December 1990. It was born from the courage of the young people who rose up against the dictatorship for freedom and democracy. For this reason, the Democratic Party is eternally linked to the demands, aspirations and will of Albanian students.
Today, more than ever, we must all stand by them. This government will not succeed in subjugating and kidnapping our children through violence and police terror. All united against the government of Edi Rama!
I call on the State Police to urgently distance themselves from acts of violence against students and to refuse to be used as a political instrument to protect Edi Rama. Every police officer has the obligation to enforce the law, not the illegal orders of the government.
Edi Rama cannot hide behind a police uniform. Dhimitraq Ziu cannot cover up violence by reading statements prepared by the prime minister. Responsibility starts with the one who gives the orders and extends to every person who implements them in violation of the law.
The Democratic Party will demand that all those who have used violence against Albanian students and minors be held legally accountable. No one will be above the law and no one will escape responsibility!
Everyone on the side of the students! Everyone united against the violence and power of Edi Rama!
