Berisha: Blocking Justice Is Tantamount to a Coup. Rama Will Be Treated Like a Putschist

‘Blocking justice is an act similar to a coup, and we will respond to Edi Rama as a putschist if he blocks justice,’ Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said during a press conference.

Berisha said he has never taken any other stance toward those who uphold the law.

‘Absolutely, the law and the Constitution have been my core political belief,’ Berisha said. ‘And as you have seen, it has been proven, everything has been investigated, and they have not shown even the smallest violation of the law.’

He added that anyone who believes the rule of law and the Constitution are essential to human rights and freedoms cannot hesitate to fully respect those who enforce them.

‘I have said it even at their doorstep, with admiration for every man, woman, boy, and girl there who applies the law,’ Berisha said. ‘And there are such people, without question.’

However, Berisha stressed that he will never agree with covering up crimes.

‘No, I do not agree,’ he said. ‘Those who hide criminals and crimes do not deserve to spend a single day in state office, but instead belong before the law.’

Berisha praised ‘brave prosecutors and investigators’ who charged a deputy prime minister, saying they deserve congratulations.

‘But do not forget,’ he added, ‘I was prime minister when I had a deputy prime minister, when the government depended on the votes of his party, and he came and resigned without the prosecution even asking for it. That was the government's standard; that was his personal standard. He said, 'I will not go to the prosecutor's office as deputy prime minister.'‘

Berisha noted that ministers have surrendered their immunity whenever requested.

‘Now, instead, we see a battle where the Constitutional Court is destroyed outright, and unconstitutional decisions are imposed,’ he said. ‘What can a civilized, responsible person say?’

Referring to his own case, Berisha said the Constitutional Court rejected a request filed by 30 MPs, a move he said was fully in line with the Constitution, refusing to even review it based on the unconstitutional claim that the MPs did not represent Parliament.

‘The Constitution does not say 'Parliament,' it says '30 MPs,'‘ Berisha said.

He also accused the court of fast-tracking the Balluku case while delaying another case for three or four months.

‘What kind of justice is this?’ he asked. ‘This is justice at the feet of a criminal organization.’

Still, Berisha acknowledged that within the justice system there are individuals he respects.

‘Even in this system, even with people like Irena Gjoka, there are those I commend, who stand by the law, who have courage and are not broken,’ he said.

Berisha also referenced what he called the ‘hostage agency,’ a state institution directly dependent on the prime minister. He said a prosecutor named Elvin resigned unexpectedly over the summer after holding a case file, without explanation.

‘He resigned because he could be taken hostage,’ Berisha claimed. ‘The circumstances did not allow him to continue.’

He said the prosecutor handling the so-called ‘Lubia file’ faced multiple threats.

‘And I tell Edi Rama: you will be personally responsible for every single one of them if even the smallest harm comes to them,’ Berisha warned. ‘They are protected by law. Do not dare touch any of them. Do not dare pressure them.’

Berisha accused the government of committing grave injustices, saying legal avenues were followed as far as possible.

‘They immediately surrounded them with 'Lali the Thief,' nearly beating judges and prosecutors,’ he said.

‘And now they are abusing the Constitutional Court to an extreme degree to block justice.’

Berisha closed with a stark warning:

‘Blocking justice is an act similar to a coup. And we will respond to Edi Rama as a putschist if he blocks justice.’