The Albanian Helsinki Committee (KShH) has completed its monitoring of the actions taken by authorities during and after the protest held on May 30, 2026, in the village of Zvërnec, where several demonstrators were reportedly subjected to violence by private security personnel.
In a statement released following its review, the organization highlighted a detail that had not previously been made public: the private security company Major Security, whose guards were present during the protest, was reportedly not contracted by the investors behind the development project at the center of the dispute.
The finding raises new questions about the role and legal basis of the security personnel who were deployed at the site during the confrontation. Despite lacking a contractual relationship with the project investors, guards associated with the company were present in Zvërnec and became involved in incidents that escalated into violence against protesters.
One of the most serious incidents involved Gerald Biba, who was later identified as the de facto owner of Major Security. Video footage and witness accounts from the protest showed Biba physically assaulting one of the demonstrators, allegedly striking him and causing him to lose consciousness.
The incident drew widespread public attention and intensified concerns about the use of force against residents protesting development plans in the environmentally sensitive coastal area of Zvërnec.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee's findings are expected to add further scrutiny to the events of May 30 and the actions of both private security personnel and the authorities responsible for maintaining public order. The organization has emphasized the importance of ensuring accountability, transparency, and respect for citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and protest.
The protest itself was organized by local residents and activists opposing development projects in the Zvërnec area, a region that has become the focus of growing controversy over land ownership, environmental protection, and large-scale investment plans.
Investigations by state authorities into the violence and the circumstances surrounding the presence of private security personnel are ongoing.