Albanian Premier Edi Rama has defended the discredited Director General of State Police Ardi Veliu, who smeared the mother of a teenager that was beaten by four police officers for breaking the curfew rules going for a ride at Tirana’s artificial lake. Speaking to the parliamentary commission of security members, Veliu said he condemned the violence, but added the kid was not educated properly, showing a video footage of his mother hold a handgun to another woman’s head. It turned out it was a movie scene as the kid’s mother is an actress, but Veliu said his words were taken out of context.

Rama decided to stand by the Police Director’s side, despite admitting he had made a mistake digging in the private life of the teenager and his mother.

“He made a mistake, but I am more inclined to believe his public apology and explanation rather than the moralists of this country”, Rama said today. “It’s quite clear it wasn’t an effort to find an excuse for the violation, because the police officer has been suspended already and is under criminal investigation. It was a badly-explained effort to say that families have responsibilities for the education of the younger education”.

“For me, the case is closed. I choose the director, not them, I’m sorry”, said Premier Rama.