TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s Ombudsman, Endri Shabani, has released preliminary findings from monitoring conducted during four days of protests across several Albanian cities, reporting complaints of alleged police violence, inadequate medical care, and violations of the rights of minors.
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Shabani stressed that the findings were preliminary and that each case was being examined individually.
214 People Contacted During Monitoring
According to the Ombudsman, monitoring teams visited police stations No. 1 through No. 6 in Tirana, the Security Block detention facility, the Trauma Hospital, and police stations in Korçë, Vlorë, and Shkodër.
During the 72-hour period, officials held confidential conversations with detainees, arrested individuals, injured people, doctors, and psychologists.
At the Trauma Hospital, 128 people reportedly received medical treatment on October 14 and 15. According to the figures presented by Shabani, they included 86 police officers, 38 protesters, and five minors. Monitoring teams interviewed a number of those treated and recorded their complaints.
The Ombudsman emphasized that the constitutional right to peaceful assembly must be respected, while condemning violence against both protesters and police officers, as well as damage to public and private property, including businesses.
He added that police have the right and obligation to use force when necessary, but only in a proportionate manner.
Complaints Against Plainclothes Police Officers
One of the key concerns raised during the monitoring involved complaints about police officers wearing civilian clothing without visible identification.
“Every officer who uses force must be identifiable,” Shabani said, explaining that identification protects citizens against abuse while also safeguarding police officers from unfounded accusations.
The Ombudsman said the complaints received also concerned alleged violence during detention, failure to provide medical assistance, and delays in complying with legal deadlines relating to security measures.
The issue of unidentified plainclothes officers, he added, would be examined as a priority.
Concerns Over the Treatment of Minors
Shabani said the protection of minors was a priority for his institution.
Monitoring officials have been reviewing testimony concerning approximately 12 minors who were allegedly held in isolation inside a ministry building. He said the case remained under examination and that further findings would be made public.
The Ombudsman also reported identifying cases in which detained minors were questioned without the presence of a parent or legal guardian and a psychologist, practices he said were inconsistent with legal requirements and international child-protection standards.
Overcrowding and Poor Conditions in Detention Facilities
The preliminary findings identified serious problems in the detention facilities inspected by the monitoring teams.
According to Shabani, all the police stations visited were operating beyond capacity, while conditions at the Security Block were described as unacceptable.
The reported problems included detainees sharing beds, sleeping on foam mattresses on the floor, insufficient blankets, a lack of heating, inadequate hygiene supplies, and limited medical services. Drinking water was reportedly being supplied by detainees’ family members, while soap and toilet paper were also missing.
Monitoring teams additionally documented people with visible signs of violence. According to Shabani, allegations and visible injuries involving 26 people held at the Security Block were recorded in official inspection reports.
The teams also found deficiencies in the registers used to document detained individuals and the information recorded about them.
Ombudsman Calls for Immediate Action
Following the findings, Shabani called on the Albanian State Police to ensure that all officers are fully identifiable during operations and that minors are kept separate from adults at all times.
He also urged the Ministry of the Interior to immediately improve conditions at the Security Block, including access to drinking water, food, beds, heating, hygiene facilities, and round-the-clock medical care.
The Ombudsman clarified that his institution's mandate is to monitor conditions, document findings, and issue recommendations, rather than directly impose disciplinary measures on officers accused of misconduct.
He concluded by encouraging anyone who has suffered violence or harm during the protests—including citizens, demonstrators, business owners, and police officers—to submit complaints to the Ombudsman.
The monitoring mechanism will continue its work on the ground as the review of individual cases proceeds.