Former Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, was presented today, November 17, 2025, with the official summons of the Special Prosecution Office regarding criminal proceedings no. 138 of 2024, which is related to the reopened investigations into the events of January 21, 2011.
The summons was delivered to Berisha during his next appearance at SPAK for the security measure “compulsory appearance” within the framework of the investigation into the “Partizani” case.
SPAK confirmed with an official announcement that Berisha has signed the summons and is obliged to appear to give his statements regarding the killing of four protesters on the boulevard on January 21, 2011.
Three days ago, on November 14, Berisha did not appear at the Special Prosecution Office, claiming that he was unaware of the notices, although SPAK stated that the summonses had been sent to several addresses since November 3. After receiving the summons in hand, he indirectly confirmed it to the media, but refused to reveal the date of the hearing.
“When I am invited, you will learn this,” said Berisha, insisting that he had not been informed beforehand.
During statements to journalists, the leader of the Democratic Party faced numerous questions regarding the investigations into the deletion of the prime minister’s camera servers, from which the footage of the day of the event was documented.
Berisha denied any knowledge and attributed responsibility to the Republican Guard.
“The Prime Minister’s Office did not have servers for surveillance as an institution. If the Guard had the server there, that’s another matter. What they keep is their responsibility,” he said, emphasizing that every previous investigation into this matter was conducted years ago and resulted in convictions.
He continued to state that he had not previously been summoned by the judiciary for this file.
“I’ve never been called. If I had been called, I would have gone 10 times. They haven’t called me because they’re afraid of my testimony.”
Berisha considered the January 21 protest “the most violent the country has ever known,” accusing the Socialist Party of having an “agenda of violence.”
The reopening of the file comes after the Supreme Court, on March 12, 2024 and in implementation of a Strasbourg decision, ordered SPAK to investigate the event as a “state crime”.
The investigation aims to clarify the responsibilities of senior state officials of the time, including Sali Berisha, former Interior Minister Lulzim Basha, and former Guard commander Ndrea Prendi.
Four protesters were killed in the protest of January 21, 2011: Aleks Nika, Ziver Veizi, Hekuran Deda and Faik Myrtaj.
The first investigation led to the indictment of Ndrea Prendin and Agim Llupo, who were sentenced on appeal to 1 and 3 years in prison for “negligent homicide.”
In July 2024, SPAK registered criminal proceedings for three serious offenses: “murder in other qualifying circumstances”, “abuse of office” and “obstruction of the discovery of the truth”, all committed in collaboration.
If Berisha does not respond to the new summons, the law provides for forced escort by the Police.
Gazetare në “Rrjetin e Raportimit të Krimit të Organizuar dhe Korrupsionit në Shqipëri”- RRKOKSH.
