Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fatmir Xhafaj, asked the Serious Crimes Prosecution Office to interrogate Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha and former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, following their public accusations regarding the cocaine shipment seized in Maminas.
In open violation of every law and standard of judicial independence, Fatmir Xhafaj directed an official communication to the Serious Crimes Prosecution Office making the above request.
The request is worded more as an order and is rife with Xhafaj’s personal opinions that exceed his official jurisdiction, and infringe on that of the Prosecution. Most importantly, Xhafaj, in his letter, threatens the Prosecution Office by writing that fulfilling his personal request is the Prosecution’s legal responsibility.
Among other things, Xhafaj wrote:
I believe that it is in the public’s legal interest, and in the interest of the case you are currently investigating, to bring these persons in, in order that they can state any facts they are aware of and any evidence they might possess regarding the criminal drug trafficking clans that were involved in the latest case of the confiscation of 613 kilograms of cocaine.
What is especially evident in these public declarations, is the fact that Mr. Sali Berisha and Mr. Lulzim Basha are clearly claiming to have knowledge of concrete facts regarding Albania’s drug trafficking clans. Again according to these public statements, it seems that these two persons are especially knowledgeable concerning the owners and buyers of the 613 kg cocaine shipment confiscated lately in the port of Durrës.
Xhafaj’s request, besides being an infringement on the Prosecution Office’s independence, is clearly politically motivated. If his concern was apolitical, he should’ve had the same stance and standards towards any case similar to Basha’s, Berisha’s and anyone else who has articualted public accusations.
To that end, Xhafaj’s stance must be examined in a multitude of cases and public accusations, starting with the following:
– Xhafaj himself issued contradictory statements regarding the confiscation of the drugs. How come Xhafaj lied in his second public statement, since there is proof that the Albanian police was aide in this raid by international partners?
– How come the police didn’t arrest the owner of the company who had ordered the shipment in which the cocaine was found, but instead let him leave the country, even though they had previous information of his illicit trade?
– Did Xhafaj ask the Prosecution to bring in US Ambassador Donald Lu after his public mention of the 21 criminal clans and 4 criminal families allegedly existing in Albania? What is the investigation status on those?
– Did Xhafaj ask the Prosecution to bring in Basha and Berisha after their public accusations toward Agron Xhafaj, for whom they claim they have evidence that he is an international cocaine trafficker convicted in Italy?
– Did Xhafaj ask the Prosecution to bring in Basha and Berisha after their public accusations toward Durrës mayor Vangjush Dako and Minister of Energy Damian Gjiknuri, seeing as they claim to have knowledge of wiretaps in which Dako and Gjiknuri are recorded conspiring with criminals to steal votes?
– Did Xhafaj ask the Prosecution to bring in Basha after his public accusations alleging a connection between Russian companies Gavnurin and Jurimex and Edi Rama and Gjiknuri?
– Did Xhafaj ask the Prosecution to bring in PS deputy Taulant Balla after his daily public accusations alleging the Democratic Party is financed by Russia?
