Courts
Tirana prosecutors investigate police over Erjon Vishkulli’s eye injury, send request to Italy
Investigators seized footage from Bank of Albania cameras and his trauma hospital records; about 20 medical records of injured protesters have been collected so far.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 26, 2026, 14:24 · Updated 18:41 · 1 min read
In brief
- Prosecutors opened a case into the 28-year-old’s injury on Oct. 24 and into suspected disproportionate use of force.
- According to Top Channel, prosecutors are waiting for the material removed from his eye in Italy to determine whether it was a rubber bullet.
- Other cases are also under investigation, including Ledion Balla’s broken leg.
The Tirana Prosecutor’s Office has opened, on its own initiative, a criminal case into the eye injury suffered by 28-year-old Erjon Vishkulli during the Oct. 24 protest, as well as into suspicions that State Police officers used disproportionate force.
According to the prosecutors’ statement, investigators have obtained video footage provided by the Bank of Albania and the young man’s medical records at the University Trauma Hospital. The work is being carried out together with the Police Oversight Agency. Vishkulli is in Italy for treatment, and prosecutors said they are working out how to communicate with Italian authorities in order to send them a letter rogatory directly.
Rubber bullet or other material?
According to Top Channel, the investigation is being led by two prosecutors on charges of “abuse of office” and “arbitrary acts,” with police officers as suspects. The letter rogatory aims to obtain the material to be removed from the 28-year-old’s eye, to establish whether it is a rubber bullet or something else. Prosecutors have also requested, the broadcaster said, the list of officers from the special police force FNSH deployed that day near the Bank of Albania, the PS headquarters and the Agriculture Ministry.
About 20 medical records
The same case is also looking into injuries to several other protesters. About 20 medical records have been collected so far. Top Channel reports that also under investigation are Ledion Balla’s broken leg, the beating of several protesters and a young man being knocked to the ground by an officer in riot gear, while the police rules for intervening at protests have been requested. Prosecutors said checks are continuing.
