Sister says family arranged Erjon Vishkulli’s transfer to Italy, while brother says the state covered the costs

Erjon Vishkulli’s family members have given differing accounts of how the 28-year-old was transferred to Italy, where he is receiving specialized treatment. The young man was seriously injured in the eye by a rubber bullet during the October 24 protest in Tirana.

His sister wrote on Instagram that the transfer had been made possible by family, friends and supporters, not the state. She thanked those who took the initiative to arrange more specialized treatment in Italy and asked news portals not to publish unverified stories for views or political propaganda.

In her view, the case should not be used for political purposes or to claim that Prime Minister Edi Rama had ordered the costs of the surgeries to be covered. She called for accurate news to be shared and wished her brother a safe and healthy return home.

Erjon’s brother gave a different account in a statement that was also shared by Prime Minister Edi Rama. He said state agencies had responded to the family’s every need, including providing a special aircraft and doctors who traveled with the young man to Italy.

His brother said Erjon’s condition was stable and that the family had received encouraging news. He expressed hope that his brother would recover and return to how he was before.

The second surgery is expected to take place tomorrow, he said, expressing hope for good news.