Albania Prison Guards Accused of Torture

“The treatment of the prisoners by the police has been inhumane,” the Ombudsman’s office writes in its referral to the Tirana’s prosecutor’s office. “The officers have committed the criminal offence of torture and they should be punished severely,” it adds.

According to the ombudsman’s office, the incident happened on April 28 in Tirana's Jordan Misja prison after a prisoner sought medical treatment and in response was severely beaten by the guards in the infirmary.

When the victim’s brother who was also under arrest at the time protested over the beating, the prison guards allegedly isolated the prisoner in a room and beat him as well.

The Ombudsman office underlines in the report that although the prison guards have denied ill-treating the two prisoners, a medical examination carried out by the coroner’s office shows the two men experienced physical abuse.

“As the result of this abuse the prisoners have suffered physical and mental pain,” the Ombudsman’s report concludes.