Astiri resident is discontent with expropriation settlement, takes case to court

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Hundreds of citizens have been offered an expropriation settlement following the New Ring reconstruction project in Tirana.

Many others have ended up without a home, even though their previous homes had been registered and legalized. As a result, they’ve taken their cases to court in hopes of finding a solution.

Nezif Leklin found himself in a similar situation. He had been living in the neighborhood known as Astiri in Tirana’s suburbs since 1996 and is a registered homeowner.

However, after the government announced plans to build the city’s New Ring – an axis that is projected to pass through hundreds of buildings in the area – Nezif’s old home was ultimately demolished.

New Ring axis project in Tirana, Albania. Credits: ata.gov.al

“My home is registered along with the entire property which I bought back in the year 2000, through an entirely legal procedure. I possess all paperwork and documentation after legalizing my property back in 2014. Then, in April 2018, they told us that we need to move out because our homes will need to be demolished,” – he said.

In Nazif’s expropriation certificate, it states that he will profit from compensation as a result of the demolition of his registered property, but the amount of this compensation is nowhere near the market value of his demolished property.

“I used to own around 367 square meters of land and 215 square meters of living space…The value I got as compensation was ridiculous and worthless,” – said the resident.

Meanwhile, the documents he possesses according to a legal expert show another value altogether.

Homes being demolished in Astiri neighborhood in Tirana, Albania. Credits: ata.gov.al

“What they gave me didn’t even amount to 100 thousand euros, whereas the court order on my case states that my compensation should be at least 300 thousand euros,” – he said.

His battle with the justice system has been a long and difficult one when more than once he’s felt like giving up.

“I’m currently following my case in the Second Instance Court. It’s hard to say exactly how long this will take,” – says Nazif.

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