Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statements on the “Flasim” podcast, where he stated that the Bureau’s investigators had refused to hand over the weapons and “didn’t want to leave the gun out,” prompted a reaction from the National Bureau of Investigation, which described the prime minister’s comments as inaccurate.
In a press release to the media, the press office of the Special Prosecutor’s Office reacted by denying that there was a clash between its investigators and the Guard of the Republic during the entry into the premises of the Council of Ministers. SPAK emphasized that security procedures were respected, firearms were deposited according to the rules and procedural actions were carried out normally.
The public clash was created as a result of different interpretations of the situation and the tone of the statements, in a sensitive political and legal context. Investigators were at the Prime Minister’s Office for the implementation of a court decision against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, a matter that has sparked strong debates about the decision-making of justice institutions and the Prime Minister’s reactions to persistently defend Belinda Balluku.
The “Gun” that sparked controversy
In his podcast “Flasim”, Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the latest political and institutional developments in the country, focusing on the processes related to justice and the decisions against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. During the podcast dated December 14, Rama stated that investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation had gone to the premises of the Council of Ministers and had refused to hand over firearms, as provided for by the security regulations of the Republic Guard.
“Some brave men from the BKH… came to the Council of Ministers building one day and did not want to leave the guns outside, according to the high security regulations of the Republic Guard,” the prime minister said during the December 14 podcast.
This statement by the Prime Minister, like the nine previous statements in defense of Deputy Prime Minister Balluku, have sparked numerous discussions and controversies.
In response to Prime Minister Rama, the National Bureau of Investigation clarified that three BKH investigators have appeared at the premises of the Council of Ministers to execute the decision of the Special Court regarding the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.
According to the BKH, after entering the interior, investigators were informed by the Republican Guard that firearms are not allowed inside the institution.
The bureau emphasized that, after verifying the security of the storage environment, the weapons were handed over and procedural actions continued normally, without any incidents.
“After verifying that the storage environment was safe and monitored by cameras, investigators deposited the weapons and continued with the procedural actions as normal,” the BKH statement said.
In its official statement, the BKH stressed that there was no debate or clash between investigators and the Republican Guard, rejecting the Prime Minister’s claims. However, the Bureau’s institutional reaction was followed by another reaction from Prime Minister Rama on the social network X.
Rama clarified that he had not criticized the investigators for carrying weapons without a permit, but for, according to him, an ethical and legal lack that led them to demand entry to the Prime Minister’s office with firearms. He continued with ironic tones towards the BKH investigators, despite the fact that Law No. 25/2019 recognizes their right to carry weapons while performing their duties.
“I did not criticize them for carrying weapons without a permit, but for the ethical and legal ignorance that led them to want to enter the prime minister’s office with a baton,” the head of government said.
Law No. 25/2019 “On the Organization and Functioning of the Judicial Police” grants BKH investigators the right to carry firearms.
Despite the fact that this fact was mentioned in the National Bureau of Investigation’s response, it did not stop the prime minister from making fun of the Bureau’s investigators.
“…The BKH’s senior officers often display worrying ethical and professional gaps” – adds the head of government.
The latest verbal clash between the Prime Minister and the justice institutions occurred at a time when Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku returned to office on December 12, 2025, after a 21-day suspension. The Constitutional Court has decided to suspend the effects of previous decisions and retry the case in a public session on January 22, 2026.
Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has been indicted since October 31 on charges of violating equality in tenders during the construction process of the Llogara tunnel and Lot 4 on the Tirana Ring Road.
Vjolanda Peca është diplomuar në Gazetari dhe Komunikim në Universitetin e Tiranës. Ka përvojë në gazetari investiguese dhe prodhim multimedial, duke punuar në Emisionin “Vetting” në News24 dhe në Faktoje.al, ku ka zhvilluar aftësi në hulumtim, verifikim faktesh, intervista në terren dhe prodhim përmbajtjesh për publikim online. Fokusi i saj është krijimi i përmbajtjeve informative që angazhojnë audiencën dhe ofrojnë informacion të thelluar.
