A massive investigation was put in motion after the devastating earthquake that struck Albania two years ago on this day. Law enforcement authorities and the prosecution offices of the four worst struck areas, namely Tirana, Durres, Kruja, and Lezha, discovered evidence pointing to grave violations during construction work and the materials used in the buildings that were reduced to rubble from the 6.4 magnitude quake.

The Prosecution of Durres issued 17 arrest warrants, of which 9 were detained, while the rest are still on the run.

Builders, construction supervisors, former state and local officials, as well as employees of the Legalization Agency, were all slapped with various indictments.

Two years on, none of the above-mentioned is behind bars, although 51 people died while hundreds were injured.

Responding to an inquiry from Euronews Albania, the Prosecution of Durres explained that the court dropped the case against the former chief of the Legalization Agency (ALUIZNI), Arben Isaku, who was accused of abuse of office and even refuted a request to appeal this decision. In addition, Isaku currently works at an executive post at Durres Town Hall.

Artur Terziu owned a bar in one of the buildings that was completely turned to ruin, and where two women died. Terziu was accused of intervening in the building’s structure as he made some modifications to the columns. He was released on probation and did not do any jail time.

Even the Tirana Prosecution released over 30 arrest warrants.

At the moment, none of the detained is doing prison time. The Prosecution sealed the investigation against 8 people, but when asked about the investigation was stalling, the Prosecution told Euronews Albania that it could not give further information as the prosecutor handling the case was currently “on leave”.

Although two years have passed since the tragic event, the investigation in Kruja and Lezha is in a stalemate, although dozens were under investigation, none actually ended up to court.

Despite promises that all those responsible will be held accountable, there is some ambiguity on who was to blame for the dozens of buildings reduced to rubble and the loss of 51 lives.