Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari has reacted to the clashes that took place a day earlier between local residents and private security guards employed by the company planning to invest in the Zvërnec area.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Lamallari called for those responsible for the violence to face criminal prosecution. He also argued that the security company involved should be shut down due to what he described as its complete inability to carry out its licensed activities properly.

Lamallari also criticized the conduct of the Vlora Police, describing their response to the incident as unjustifiable and emphasizing that their indifference in the face of the situation could not be excused.

“1. The Zvërnec project concerns entirely private land, and the Albanian government has neither granted nor given away any land—not only because we have never given land to anyone, but also because in this case the property was returned to its rightful owners and registered long before we came to power.

2. Even if the property is private, private security guards have absolutely no right to use force against anyone. Not only should those individuals face criminal prosecution, as is already happening, but the administrative investigation into their company for complete incompetence in carrying out its authorized activities should be concluded as soon as possible.
3. I welcome the swift response of the General Directorate of State Police in suspending local police leaders and launching an investigation into the chain of command, because it was not only the scandalous behavior of the private security guards that was unacceptable, but also the unjustifiable indifference of the police officers present at the scene.

The internal crackdown within the State Police, which began in Saranda and has continued in Vlora, will remain a constant feature of our work in this new chapter of police leadership. The blue uniforms are, and must always be, guarantors of the rule of law, where the protection of public and private property is a fundamental responsibility. At the same time, they must also safeguard citizens’ trust in the police uniform. Therefore, any deviation from these principles will be addressed through close cooperation between police leadership structures and the Police Oversight Agency,” Lamallari stated.

The minister’s remarks come amid growing public debate over the Zvërnec investment project and the confrontation between protesters and private security personnel guarding the construction site.