In Albania, the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime and Corruption handed over a list of approximately 70 witnesses to the court on Friday. These witnesses, according to the prosecutor, are deemed necessary for the trial against former Minister of Defense Fatmir Mediu, concerning the 2008 ammunition depot explosion in Gërdec, which tragically resulted in 26 fatalities and over 250 injuries. This move by the prosecutor comes after Mediu and his legal team opted to step back from the expedited trial and pursue a standard legal process.
The list of witnesses provided by the Special Prosecutor notably includes former Minister of Justice Aldo Bumçi and Shkëlzen Berisha, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. They are linked through a fax message originating from Bumçi’s office at the Ministry of Justice, with a note pertaining to the former Prime Minister’s son. Bumçi has categorically denied any involvement, vehemently asserting that the document is a forgery. Conversely, investigations carried out at that time suggest that Shkëlzen Berisha frequently accessed the Ministry of Defense and had communications with Mihal Delijorgji, one of the Albanian businessmen implicated in the demilitarization of the Albanian army’s ammunition.
The prosecution has summoned a range of witnesses, including many family members of the victims, as well as individuals who were involved in the post-explosion investigation and subsequently faced legal consequences.
Earlier this year, the son of the former Prime Minister was called in by prosecutors to provide a statement regarding the Gërdec incident, during which he denied any association with the tragic events of 2008. This marks his initial testimony concerning the ammunition depot explosion that resulted in 26 deaths and over 250 injuries.
Mediu’s defense team has also submitted an extensive list of 90 potential witnesses to be called upon during the trial, indicating that the legal proceedings are likely to be prolonged.
The legal case against the former Minister of Defense was initiated following a complaint lodged by the families of the victims. Mediu stands accused of “Abuse of Duty” in collaboration and “Abuse of Duty” in conjunction with military personnel/commanders. These identical charges were originally brought against him by the General Prosecutor’s Office in 2009, although Mediu was never brought to trial for these allegations as he regained his deputy mandate in the summer of that year.
