On April 3, the company "Gener 2" filed four criminal charges against MPs Agron Shehaj and Erald Kapri, lawyer Ndue Pjetra, and Rrjoll resident Prekë Molla, whom it accuses of defamation and denigration.
The news was announced through a press release, which was later reported by A2 CNN television, which is owned by entrepreneur Bashkim Ulaj, also the main shareholder of "Gener 2".
"We clearly emphasize that any attempt at political or 'media' extortion will receive a single and decisive response: facing justice," it was said in the company's statement.
While "Gener 2" claims that the campaign against it "with false information" has damaged its image, representatives of the Opportunity Party consider this a dangerous precedent that aims to silence not only activists, but also MPs.
The other accused parties, including defense attorney Pjetra and protester Molla, believe that this method used by "Gener 2" will not work to stop them from seeking the truth.
The conflict between the residents of Rrjoll and the company "Gener 2" has started since more than a year, after the company has begun construction of the “Blue Borgo” tourist resort. The protesters claim that the construction is being carried out on their land, which they say was acquired through forged documents.
"Defamation as an instrument against corruption accusations"
In a comment to Citizens.al, the chairman of the Mundësia party, Agron Shehaj, said that Bashkim Ulaj enjoys the support of the majority, not only on the issue of Rrjoll, but also for other projects.
He recalled the case of the Thumanë-Kashar tender, where former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku used the expression "we are honoring life", regarding the award of the contract to the company "Gener 2".
According to him, part of the political class is in Ulaj's defense, which reinforces suspicions of a typical case, "where the property of ordinary citizens is being appropriated by actors with strong political connections."
He adds that defamation charges are used as a strategy to dilute corruption allegations.
"The leader of the Socialist Party parliamentary group [Taulant Balla], every time I speak, labels me as a slanderer and mentions the defamation charges. They have no other argument," said Shehaj.
MP Erald Kapri, also representing the Opportunity Party, argued that putting a MP under pressure for public statements in the exercise of his duties sends a clear signal to society.
"Such an action creates a 'chilling effect' on the public space: journalists, activists and ordinary citizens may self-censor for fear of long and costly legal proceedings," he said.
In conclusion, he emphasized that the indictment fits into a climate of pressure on critical voices and aims to limit the opposition.
"We don't recognize intimidation"
The accused parties, the lawyer for the residents of Rrjoll, Ndue Pjetra, and the protester Prekë Molla, said they will not withdraw from their cause.
Lawyer Pjetra described the complaint as "an own goal" on the part of the company, as regards suspicions of forgery, it is expected that the Shkodra Prosecutor's Office will carry out the expert examination.
"Two prosecutors, two judicial police officers and three experts have been appointed," he explained, implying that the plaintiff will lose out in this process.
Prekë Molla, one of the most vocal protesters of Rrjoll, also expressed optimism about the results of the expertise.
"I don't understand where the slander lies, when I said that the documents are forged. This is a truth that all of Albania knows," he stressed.
He added that field work is continuing at a rapid pace and that the goal, according to him, was to complete construction and move to a factual situation such that there would be no legal setbacks after the results of the investigations are released.
"They work every day, even on holidays, Easter, Eid, and even Sundays, "They are working so that when the documents come out, they can say that construction is complete," Molla concluded.
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He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
