A shocking case from Durrës has triggered public reaction across Albania after the family of 59-year-old Sajmir Markja claimed authorities and witnesses initially attempted to present his death as a natural medical emergency, before security footage allegedly exposed a violent assault.
The incident dates back to April 13, when Markja was taken to hospital after collapsing near the residential building where he lived. Family members say they were informed by authorities that the cause of death was cardiac arrest. However, according to his brother, Mentor Markja, inconsistencies began to emerge when he viewed his brother’s body at the morgue and noticed visible injuries near the victim’s lip and head.
Speaking publicly about the case, Mentor Markja described the following days as filled with unanswered questions. While funeral preparations were underway, the family began searching for Sajmir’s personal belongings, including a wristwatch that held sentimental value. During those efforts, relatives say they were repeatedly redirected by individuals who had allegedly witnessed the incident, raising further suspicion about what had really happened.
According to the family’s account, Sajmir Markja had gone to a garage operating as a vehicle service area inside his apartment complex to discuss the purchase of a water pump for the building. Witness accounts and later security footage allegedly show that a verbal argument broke out before Markja attempted to leave the scene.
The footage, reportedly obtained by the family on April 17, appears to show Markja walking away while telling the suspected attacker that he had not insulted him. Moments later, according to the family, the suspect identified as Gentjan Kraja allegedly turned back, struck Markja to the ground, and continued punching him while he was unconscious.
The case has now raised serious questions about the initial handling of the death, including why the family says the incident was first described as a medical emergency rather than a possible homicide. The testimony has intensified public calls for transparency and accountability as investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding Markja’s death.