Five years have passed since the fire that engulfed the Modular Hospital in Tetovo, a tragedy in which 14 people lost their lives, while dozens of others were injured.

Among the victims were 12 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 treatment, as well as two of their relatives.

After a lengthy legal process, Florian Besimi and Artan Etemi, the directors of Tetovo Hospital, were sentenced to three years in prison each for serious offenses against public safety. Meanwhile, the Clinical Hospital, as a legal entity, was fined 1.3 million euros.

In August this year, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption (PPO GOKK) concluded its investigation into the public procurement procedure for the construction of 19 modular hospitals in Macedonia. According to the prosecution’s assessment, no grounds were found for suspicions of abuse of official position and authority or of any other criminal offense prosecuted ex officio.

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A year after the construction of a memorial park was promised for the people who lost their lives in the September 8, 2021 fire at Tetovo’s modular hospital, work has still not begun. In fact, the area designated for the park has not even been cleared. The victims’ relatives have expressed disappointment, describing this as contempt for the victims, just as they say the court proceedings were.

Mumin Ismaili, a relative of one of the victims, says the families were deceived by promises to build a memorial for the 14 victims.

“We, as relatives, were disappointed by the memorial park. We were promised the park, and the site where it would be built was selected. At the time, Azir Aliu was minister, and we reached an agreement to build the park, but it was never built. They promised us and lied to us. In this country, whenever something has been promised to us as relatives, they have always lied to us. It was never built, and I do not even know what is happening with the memorial for the 14 victims,” said Mumin Ismaili, a relative of one of the victims.

Meanwhile, the director of Tetovo Clinical Hospital, Erzen Elezi, says that the institution he heads has fulfilled its obligations regarding the project. According to him, the requested documentation was submitted to the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for building the park.

“As we informed you, Tetovo Clinical Hospital was asked to identify the site and location where a memorial park could be built for the tragedy that occurred at Tetovo Hospital. We provided the Ministry of Health with all the necessary documents that were requested, but this is a project of the Ministry of Health. We have asked several times and received information that the procedure is at the tendering stage,” declared Erzen Elezi, director of Tetovo Clinical Hospital.

A month ago, during his most recent visit to Tetovo Clinical Hospital, Health Minister Sasho Klekovski said he had not been informed about the unfinished project.

“In fact, I was not aware that we had an unfinished project here. The mayor informed me; I will look into it and we will give it priority,” said Sasho Klekovski, minister of health.

A few weeks before the anniversary of the tragedy at Tetovo’s modular hospital, the Prosecutor’s Office closed its second investigation into the procurement of modular hospitals. This further extinguished the relatives’ hopes of a full clarification of the case. Fourteen people lost their lives in the fire that broke out on September 8, 2021, at Tetovo’s modular hospital. In connection with the incident, in addition to Tetovo Hospital as a legal entity, the hospital’s two directors, Florin Besimi and Artan Etemi, were also charged with failing to install fire-extinguishing equipment in the modular facility in Tetovo. /Alsat/

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The Alliance for Albanians has responded to VLEN’s statements regarding the Tetovo tragedy, describing the coalition’s remarks as an expression of political hypocrisy.

According to ASH, VLEN must first clarify the involvement of its leaders, Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami, in the government at the time before seeking institutional accountability and justice. The party stressed that the 14 victims of the tragedy must not be turned into a subject of political confrontation, as their families have the right to learn the truth and receive justice.

The full response:

VLEN now appears to have concluded that the Tetovo tragedy requires institutional accountability and that the public is “owed an answer.”

However, before speaking about morality, justice and responsibility, VLEN must answer a simple question to the citizens: where were you at that time?

Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami, two of VLEN’s current leaders, were part of the government for which they now act as though they had no connection whatsoever.

During that period, Izet Mexhiti also held the position of deputy leader of DUI. For this reason, the current use of this tragedy to attack others, while ignoring the political role and responsibility of the people who currently lead VLEN, represents the clearest form of political hypocrisy.

Fourteen lost lives cannot be used either for propaganda or as an instrument in battles between political parties. The victims’ families deserve the truth to be uncovered and justice to be served. Justice cannot be demanded only when it concerns a political opponent, while being forgotten as soon as responsibility touches VLEN’s current leaders.

Therefore, before accusing others, VLEN must answer the citizens:

Where were Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami? What political responsibility did they assume at the time? What did they demand be clarified in this case? And why do they now act as though this event has nothing to do with them?

The demand for justice is an obligation. But seeking it while leaving out one’s own political and institutional role constitutes unprecedented hypocrisy.

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