DW: Tahiri first senior official tried for drug trafficking

Last week, on September 10th, prosecutors of the Tahiri case issued the claim and demanded 12 years in prison for charges of corruption, drug trafficking and participation in a criminal group. These charges were dropped by the Court for lack of evidence. Tahiri received innocence for them and will not serve a day in prison in accordance with Albania's Penal Code, Gykat returned the sentence from 5 years to 3 years of test service or volunteer work, since Tahiri accepted a cut trial.

The Randa Criminals Court made its decision, after the investigation and a court process of more than two years, judges handed down the verdict following lengthy consultations, about 22.00, though it had been warned for 6 hours earlier.

The decision comes weeks before the European Council of EU member states summit, for opening or opening accession negotiations with Albania, where growth and sustainability of anti-corruption results and organised crime are at the top of conditions for a positive decision.

Tahiri: “Funny decision, I'm innocent”

Former Interior Minister Tahiri called the “unexpected, ridiculous and absurd” the decision of the First Century War Crimes Court. He declared before reporters that he would appeal it and give details Friday, 2009) that “what happened to the judicial process and charges against him during the two years”.

” For two years I was investigated as part of a criminal group that has committed drug trafficking. Today the Court says I'm not a criminal, I'm not a smuggler, I'm not part of a structured criminal group, but since I used the same car with my cousins I'm guilty of abuse of office. I'm speechless. It's like entering a test, your teacher tells you very well you're prepared, but you'll get 5”, Tahiri said after the verdict was announced.

Opposition: Embarrassing decision, Rama Prime Minister's hostage justice

The opposition calls it neither ridiculous nor absurd, but shameful “” the court's decision to former Interior Minister Tahiri. Democratic Party Chairman (PD) Lulzim Basha, in a status in social media, writes that” is a shameful decision not to do justice with Edi Rama's right arm -- a decision showing that justice has been taken hostage by Prime Minister Rama”.

Tahiri: My battle has just begun

Former Interior Minister Tahiri, in the first government mandate of Prime Minister Rama, 2013-2017, has been one of his closest colleagues.

Investigations against him by the RS Criminal Prosecutor began in November 2017 on charges of committing criminal acts „of narcotics trafficking Cannabis Sivra in co-operation with a structured criminal group, in large quantities from Albania to Italy. ”

They were based on wiretapping by the Catania (Italia) Prosecution for the criminal group of the Habilaj brothers, distant cousins of the former Interior Minister Tahiri, because the conversation between the two traffickers mentioned his name and used the same car in a case with his traffickers.

After 7 months of investigation, in May 2018, the Randa Criminal Court took the house arrest move against Tahiri in response to the request by the Prosecutor of the Criminals for prison arrest. But the Court of Appeals allowed Tahiri's investigation in a free state, an investigation that ended in February of this year.

Throughout the judicial process Tahiri and his lawyer, Max Hadzia, have dismissed the charges and sought innocence, given the lack of evidence.

Former Interior Minister Tahiri is the first senior official in Albania, investigated and tried for drug trafficking and links to organised crime to be punished for abuse of office.

It was considered one of the most successful ministers in the first governing mandate of Prime Minister Rama, who succeeded in ending the cultivation and processing of Cannabis Senta in the southern part of the country, in Lazarat, an invulnerable village by law and where state police could not enter for more than 10 years. But after the absolute success with Lazarati, the country was songled and drug trafficking increased.

Former Interior Minister Tahiri called from the court Thursday for innocence. My “Bete has just begun to whitewash the truth”, Tahiri declared after the decision of the War Crimes Court.

Albania has committed itself to a reformed justice system, with judges and prosecutors who have spent their lives on ending the impunity of former senior or current officials accused of corruption, links to organised crime and abuse of power.