Martin Cani’s parents have reacted to statements made by Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday regarding the tragedy that claimed their son’s life, as he spoke about the “Smart City” project and its implementation in 20 schools.
In a public statement, they accuse the prime minister of continuing to use their son’s name for political purposes and of evading the responsibility of institutions which, they say, failed to protect him.
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“The Cani family expresses its deep indignation at the way Prime Minister Rama continues to use the name of our son, Martin Cani, for political and propaganda purposes, while avoiding the real responsibilities of the institutions that failed to protect him,” they said.
The Cani family disputes the claim that shutting down TikTok has increased children’s safety, citing the recent killings of two minors in Maliq and Durres. According to the family, social media is not the cause of the violence; rather, it is the failures of the education system and the lack of security in schools.
“These tragedies show that social media is not the cause of the killings, but rather the failure of the education system, the lack of security in schools and institutional irresponsibility.”
The family also criticizes the plan to install cameras in schools, stressing that they do not replace concrete measures to prevent violence and will not save lives without real investment in security and psychological support.
“School safety requires action, not technological equipment for propaganda.”
Referring to the prime minister’s statement that he “constantly thinks about Martin,” his parents say he has done nothing for them and has offered no institutional support.
“Why has the heart machine that would have saved Martin not been purchased? Martin died because: the Trauma Hospital had no cardiac surgeon; the Trauma Hospital did not have the heart-lung machine that repairs the hearts of those injured in the heart.”
In conclusion, the family calls on the prime minister to seek the swift completion of the investigation into the responsibility of the “Fan Noli” school and the healthcare system, stressing that “18 months of investigation without answers is an institutional disgrace.”
What did Prime Minister Rama say?
“Today, everyone has forgotten the tragic killing of a student at the ‘Fan Noli’ School, which shocked the entire country and created a psychologically convulsive situation, with different versions of the event, with the extreme politicization of the death and with blood journalism. Meanwhile, the State Police and, naturally, through the State Police, the Ministry of Education and the government, became targets of all kinds of speculation, accusations, concoctions and fabrications, which lasted quite some time and caused great anguish not only to the family members but also to the entire public. I have not forgotten it, as all those who used it, misused it and exploited that tragedy to the end have forgotten it, because I remember it every day, by following precisely this project, which is my response and our response to that tragedy,” Rama said.
FULL STATEMENT BY THE CANI FAMILY:
The Cani family expresses its deep indignation at the way Prime Minister Rama continues to use the name of our son, Martin Cani, for political and propaganda purposes, while avoiding the real responsibilities of the institutions that failed to protect him.
Even today, in his public speech, the Prime Minister stated: “Parents should feel reassured… the government is different from how it is portrayed on social media channels.” Yet the reality is entirely different: children continue to be killed, institutions continue to fail, and the tragedies are not stopping.
1. The killings of minors did not stop after TikTok was shut down
Despite the shutdown of TikTok, which the government used as a political justification after Martin’s killing, the reality is clear:
A minor was killed in Maliq.
Another minor was killed in Durres.
These tragedies show that social media is not the cause of the killings, but rather the failure of the education system, the lack of security in schools and institutional irresponsibility.
2. Installing cameras does not solve the problem
The Prime Minister spoke today about a “smart city in schools” and the installation of cameras, saying: “The algorithm is a body that does what it is told.”
But cameras:
do not prevent violence,
do not replace psychologists,
do not address the lack of security,
did not save Martin and will not save other children without real measures.
School safety requires action, not technological equipment for propaganda.
3. The Prime Minister says he “constantly thinks about Martin,” but has done nothing for our family
If the Prime Minister truly thinks about Martin:
Why has he never met our family?
Why has he offered no institutional support?
Why has he not apologized for the failures of the system he leads?
Words are not enough. We have seen only silence, evasion and the political use of our tragedy.
4. Why has the heart machine that would have saved Martin not been purchased?
Martin died because:
The Trauma Hospital had no cardiac surgeon;
The Trauma Hospital did not have the heart-lung machine that repairs the hearts of those injured in the heart.
This equipment costs less than a government car, yet it has still not been purchased.
How many more children must die for the government to understand that equipment saves lives, not cameras?
5. Why did the Prime Minister not criticize the ministers who laughed when Martin was mentioned in Parliament?
When Martin’s name was mentioned in Parliament:
Minister Manastirliu laughed;
Minister Balluku laughed.
The Prime Minister did not say a word. No condemnation. No punishment. No apology.
Is this the respect he claims to have for our son?
6. The police did not do their job – the murder weapon was found by a random passer-by
If the police had acted properly:
The murder weapon would not have been found by a random citizen;
The evidence would not have been at risk of being lost;
The investigation would not have been incomplete.
This is clear evidence of the failure of law enforcement structures.
7. The Prime Minister must demand the urgent conclusion of the 18-month investigation into Fan Noli school and the healthcare system
Instead of politicizing Martin’s tragedy:
The Prime Minister must demand the urgent conclusion of the investigation into the responsibility of the Fan Noli school, which did not notify the parents of Friday’s incident;
He must demand the urgent conclusion of the investigation into the spectacular failure of the healthcare system, which sent Martin to the wrong hospital and did not have the equipment to save him.
18 months of investigation without answers is an institutional disgrace.
We will not remain silent.
Martin was not a political slogan. Martin was not a pretext for censorship. Martin was not a justification for cameras.
Martin was a good child, a footballer with dreams, a boy who deserved to live.
We demand:
Justice for Martin
Safety for Albania’s children
Accountability from institutions
Action, not words
The Cani Family, Tirana, 17.07.2026
