The legal battle for the protection of the river Shushica, a tributary of Vjosa, has ended successfully in court, creating an important precedent in the protection of the environment in Albania.
The first instance of the Administrative Court today announced the decision to cancel the contract that provided for the construction of 4 hydropower plants in its bed, giving rights to residents and environmental organizations.
"All residents of the Shushica valley and the Vjosa National Park have triumphed with this decision. Justice for the protection of our river from hydropower plants was delayed, but thankfully it came in our favor,” said Sotir Zahoaliaj, a resident of Brataj village, about 190 kilometers south of Tirana.
The court legitimized the 28 residents who sued the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and the National Environment Agency (AKM) for the 35-year concession granted to "Shushica Hydropower" in 2017 for the use of river waters. She considered the residents the right party to sue not only on the basis of "property interests", but also "spiritual and cultural".
This legitimization also extended to the organizations "EcoAlbania" and "Impetus", which, together with the "Res Publica" center, have contributed significantly to the protection of the environment.
Besjana Guri, representative of EcoAlbania, said that this decision should serve as a moment of reflection for the authorities.
"We hope that this decision will not be appealed, but will be accepted as a signal for the protection of our natural heritage," said Guri.
"After almost three years, this is an important victory not only for the defense of Shushica, but also for Albanian jurisprudence," declared lawyer Irena Dule from the Res Publica center.
According to her, the decision creates a new legal practice that allows the public to legally object to administrative contracts without being a contracting party. The decision also strengthens the protection status of the wild river Vjosa, which has been declared a National Park.
Shushica, which is also known as the Vlora River, flows from the Dry Mountain and the Gjoshnikoshi Mountain to the east of the village of Kuç in Vlora. This river unites at least three cold streams - Smokthina, Vajka, Vllahina - and runs about 82 kilometers from south to north, joining the Vjosa as one of its main tributaries.
Also Read:
- "Years at risk", the drying up of resources revolts the community and endangers nature
- "Hands off Shushica", the call of the residents against the destructive project
- "Firms pipe", protest act in defense of Shushica's water
Erblin Vukaj has completed his studies in “Communication Sciences” and further mastered (MSc) in “European and International Journalism” at the University of Tirana. Since 2012, Vukaj has been working as a professional journalist, gaining experience in online media, print media, radio and television. He has covered various issues such as current affairs, health, environment and sports. In parallel, he has led and been involved in several research projects on the communist past in Albania.
