Tirana, October 21 (Albania Journal) – The People’s Advocate, Ahmet Prençi, Commissioner of the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, reported preliminary findings on Thursday following 24 hours of monitoring the treatment of protesters, detainees and injured individuals.
Prençi said the findings were preliminary, adding that a more detailed investigation was continuing and its results would be announced within the legally established deadlines.
On October 20, teams from the People’s Advocate inspected Police Station No. 2, the Security Block detention facility and the Trauma Hospital. Police stations No. 1, 5 and 6 had no detained individuals at the time of inspection and were therefore excluded from the monitoring process.
According to the findings, two adults were being held at Police Station No. 2, but both were released during the inspection. Meanwhile, 118 people were being held at the Security Block, including 36 who had been arrested in the preceding hours. Six minors were also being detained at the facility.
During the monitoring, six complaints were received from arrested individuals alleging that they had been subjected to violence during their arrest or while being escorted by police.
At the Trauma Hospital, six protesters were found to be hospitalised, including one minor. This marked a significant decrease from the previous day, when 34 people had received medical treatment.
Regarding allegations of police violence, the People’s Advocate reported cases of bodily injuries among detainees at the Security Block, including injuries to the head and eyes. Video footage from the protests, along with recordings submitted by citizens, is being examined to establish the circumstances and identify those potentially responsible.
Another concern involved an arrested individual who remained hospitalised at the Trauma Hospital, handcuffed to a bed and under police supervision. According to Prençi, the individual alleged that he had been assaulted during his arrest and had sustained a serious eye injury.
The monitoring also highlighted severe overcrowding at the Security Block. Rooms designed for one person were accommodating three to four detainees, while at least two people were reportedly sleeping on the floor. The facility’s official capacity is 67 people, but 118 individuals were found there during the inspection.
Concerns were also raised about the treatment of minors. The People’s Advocate said no separate room for children had been identified at the Security Block. Complaints from minors included restrictions on contacting their families and lawyers, as well as the absence of a psychologist during questioning.
In response to the findings, the People’s Advocate called on the State Police to immediately preserve video footage from the protests and police premises, provide documentation relating to detentions and arrests, and ensure that the officers and vehicles involved in police operations were identified.
The institution also requested documentation confirming that legal safeguards for minors had been respected. Authorities were asked to clarify the circumstances surrounding the hospitalised detainee’s handcuffing, including the reasons for the decision, its duration and the individuals responsible.
The Ministry of the Interior was urged to restore the Security Block to its normal capacity of 67 people and accommodate any additional detainees in facilities that meet the required standards.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health was asked to ensure that doctors were available at all times in detention facilities and that every bodily injury was properly documented medically.
The People’s Advocate stressed that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by the Constitution and that any use of force by police must be lawful, necessary and proportionate.
The institution said it would continue monitoring compliance with its requests. Any cases involving suspected legal violations and potential criminal responsibility would be referred to the prosecution.
The People’s Advocate also urged citizens who believe their rights were violated during the protests or while in police custody to submit individual complaints through the institution’s telephone numbers, official website or social media channels. The institution assured complainants that their confidentiality would be protected.
