Testimony of the victims’ relative in Roskovec: Over 40 days of constant threats, justice failed

This Saturday, Kosta and Belere Plaku were laid to eternal rest, a day after the severe tragedy in Vidhisht, Roskovec. They were shot dead by Refit Buzi, the former husband of their niece.

In an interview for the Review show on Euronews Albania, Kosta’s brother recounted the first moments of the crime and blamed the authorities, stressing that alarm signals had long been raised about the perpetrator’s threats.

He recalled waking up to the gunshots: “I was sleeping. Around 05:20-05:30 I heard the shots. I immediately got up, felt something terrible had happened. I alerted the Police and drove there. When I arrived, he had already shot, kidnapped the niece, and fled. Then the ambulance and law enforcement came.”

According to him, the clash had been going on for more than a year, and family members had filed complaints against the aggressor several times.

“The story is long, at least over a year. The niece had reported him in Tirana, as he was waiting for her on her way. She obtained a protection order, valid until December. We tried to settle things peacefully, hoping things would calm down. But, as soon as he got out, for about 40 days he sent threatening messages daily in various ways,” he recounted.

He added that despite the complaints, the perpetrator remained free by the judicial system.

“The niece and my brother filed a report. The Police detained him, the Prosecution requested arrest, but the Court sent him to house arrest. That very day he got out, within a few hours, the threats resumed. I told the inspector he was moving around freely. He replied: ‘Record the threats and take a photo.’ I told him I’m not a photojournalist, but come because I’ll catch him and you can take him. He said he wasn’t allowed,” the interviewee recounted.

Regarding Rozalida’s condition, he acknowledged he had not yet spoken to her. “I haven’t talked to Rozalida yet. I will sit and listen to her, but she is deeply shocked.”

In the end, the deceased’s brother expressed his indignation toward the institutions, underlining that the fatal event could have been avoided.

“What I want cannot be brought back, but the state organs are soft, just a facade. For more than 40 days there were threats and again they let him go free. When someone is a repeat offender, measures must be toughened, not to let him go. This catastrophe came not only from one man, but also from the inability to enforce the law. If citizens remain silent and rules are not applied, such tragedies will happen again,” he stated.

He also criticized some online media for their handling of the case. “I am dissatisfied with some portals. I haven’t read them myself, but relatives have informed me. They are writing fabrications that did not happen. News must be carefully checked before publication.”

Kosta Plaku died immediately at the scene, while his wife, Belere Plaku, passed away in hospital due to injuries. After the criminal act, the perpetrator took his ex-wife hostage, whom he released after negotiations with the Police, and finally committed suicide.