Tirana court puts 4 protesters under house arrest, 16 others ordered to report to police

The Tirana First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction on Tuesday set security measures for another group of protesters arrested during recent protests in the capital.

The measures

According to ATSH (the Albanian Telegraphic Agency), four people were placed under house arrest, barred from leaving their declared homes. One person was ordered to report to police and banned from leaving the country, while five others will report regularly to the judicial police. Another person was banned from leaving the country and ordered to stay in a designated place.

The court also ordered ten other people to report to police; they are under investigation for property destruction, violence against officials on duty, taking part in illegal gatherings and obstructing traffic. In total, 16 people will report regularly to the authorities.

Immediate release

The court ordered the immediate release of all those not held on other legal grounds. According to RTSH, in one of the groups the court ruled the in-the-act arrests lawful, while prosecutors had sought harsher measures. One of the defendants was also barred from leaving the municipality of Korça without authorization.

The rulings can be appealed to the Tirana Court of Appeal within five days from the day after the reasoned decision is received. Tirana courts have in recent days reviewed dozens of cases of arrested protesters, many of whom have been released with lighter security measures.