A court in Albania on Saturday ordered house arrest for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is being investigated for possible corruption.
Judge Irena Gjoka of the First Instance Special Court on Corruption and Organised Crime, which covers cases involving senior officials and politicians, granted prosecutors’ request to put Berisha under house arrest after he violated a previous requirement to check in every two weeks. He was also barred from travelling abroad.
His lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, said the court imposed a new restriction on Saturday, barring Berisha, 79, from communicating with people other than members of his family who live with him. Gjokutaj said he would appeal the court order.
“No criminal charge or new evidence supported this new request,” Gjokutaj and Berisha’s other lawyer, Sokol Mengjesi, said. “None of the legal criteria required for imposing or escalating such restrictions are met in this case.” Albanian media outlets reported the arrival of police officers at Berisha’s apartment building in downtown Tirana. It is not clear how officers planned to monitor him.
In a reaction posted on Facebook, Berisha said he would “continue to work and fight each minute, in all the forms, to restore democracy”. “I invite you under the motto today or never’ in the no-return battle to be stronger, more determined and more passionate and more courageous than ever before,” he wrote.
Last week, parliament voted to strip Berisha of his legal immunity. Lawmakers loyal to Berisha tried to disrupt the session and boycotted the vote.
Berisha has criticised the investigation of him and his arrest as political repression ordered by Prime Minister Edi Rama, and he has warned of “powerful protests”.
Depriving Berisha of communication may become a wider political issue because he’s the leader of the main opposition party.
“The Democratic Party calls on all Albanians and its supporters to continue our today or never’ battle for the restoration of the political pluralism and Edi Rama’s deserved punishment.” Luciano Boci, a senior party leader said at a news conference after the judge issued the order.
In October, prosecutors publicly put Berisha under investigation for allegedly abusing his post to help his son-in-law, JamarberMalltezi, privatise public land to build 17 apartment buildings. Prosecutors have yet to file formal charges in court and Berisha is still technically under investigation. “Rama’s New Year postcard is the arrest and isolation of the opposition leader!” Berisha’s son Shkelzen posted on Facebook.
