Minister of the Interior Sander Lleshaj claimed the reason police did not wear identification numbers during last week’s National Theatre protests was to stop them from being blackmailed.
Following incidents of violence against protestors last Sunday, many drew attention to the fact that the police had all removed their ID badges. This meant that they could not be identified by anyone, much less those who were assaulted.
Lleshaj said that “when the police act in an organized manner, the identity of all police officers is the identity of their leader.” He added that those asking for identification want to blackmail the police in question.
Furthermore, the Minister claimed that police officers did not have weapons with them when the entered the theatre at 4.30 am to remove protestors.
Policia e Lleshit.Do pèrgjigjeni para ligjit o talebanë.
Gepostet von Adriana Kalaja am Freitag, 22. Mai 2020
Footage and photos have emerged online, purporting to be from inside and outside the theatre. Both semi-automatic weapons and pistols can be seen and in one clip, the sound of a gun loading can be heard.
“I do not know exactly what they had…RENEA checked for explosives. I believe there were also dogs. Those are standard procedures. I haven’t seen guns. Not even those weapons that are legally binding like a rubber baton,” he said.
Then on TV show ‘Java’, Lleshaj said that it is the duty of the police to use violence against those who violate the law.
“The police officer has a duty to use violence for public benefit. Violence is a state monopoly and has the right to do so legally. Anyone who raises their hand is overcoming the law. If you are ready to break the law, you must be ready for the consequences.”
