Ombudsman: As of Friday, no violence against detained protesters had been reported

The Ombudsman officially reacted this Saturday regarding the people detained by police after the incidents recorded during the protest held in front of Parliament, announcing that it had monitored the situation from the outset and reviewed the documentation on the detentions and escorts.

The statement says the institution has been continuously engaged since the first day in monitoring the rights of detained or arrested protesters.

According to the response, the relevant documentation related to the detentions and escorts was also collected and verified that same day.

The Ombudsman clarifies that on Thursday it personally contacted the arrested individuals, while the institution’s teams were present at police stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Tirana, as well as at the Trauma Hospital, where detainees and injured persons were interviewed and the necessary information was gathered.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture carried out checks at the Security Block in Tirana, where detained protesters were interviewed.

So far, according to the statement, 10 official complaints have been registered related to excessive use of force during detention or escort by police officers. These cases are under administrative verification and, if confirmed, will be pursued using all legal means provided for under the institution’s mandate.

Also, from the interviews conducted up to Friday, it appears that none of the detained individuals filed a complaint about violence being used during their stay in the Security Block.

The Ombudsman also says that this Saturday, following an allegation of violence against a citizen inside the Security Block premises, two teams were immediately engaged. One team will interview the citizen in hospital, while the other team will carry out checks at the Security Block. According to the statement, the full findings will be made public after the verifications are completed.