Tirana,
on 09/10/2003
Prot.
No. K2/Sh31-2
Doc.
No. 200301681/2
Subject: About
the maltreatment of the Albanian citizen Arjan
Torka from the Greek border police
To:
Mr. Georges KAMINIS
Ombudsman of Greece
5, Hadjijanni Mexi Str. GR- 115 28
ATHENS
Dear Mr. Kaminis,
Recently we made you present our concern in relation to several cases
when Greek police of border posts have maltreated the Albanian
citizens. In addition to those cases, on 06.10.2003, it is
recorded another case of maltreatment in the Greek territory by
the police of Kapshtica Check point. The citizen Arjan Torka from
Gramsh provided with a regular Albanian passport and a regular
Greek visa passed the border check point of Kapshitca (Albania).
After the control by the Albanian police round 5:00 p.m he went to
the Greek check point for the usual control, to get the relevant
stamp. One of the Greek police officers pretended that the
passport of this Albanian citizen was falsified. On that reason
they sent him back to Albania. The citizen Arjan Torka, convinced
about the regularity of passport tried to explain to the greek
police officers that it was a regular passport and that he
shouldn’t be stopped. One of the police officers called three
other colleagues that drag Arjan Torka along the ground until
their office wherein they started to punch and kick him in
different parts of the body hurting him. Latter they torn his
passport up and sent him back to the Albanian territory under the
threat not to tell anything about the violence exerted.
Once arrived in Albanian territory he made an indictment
about the violence and the fact his passport was torn up, and the
Police Commissariat of Devoll (Border Region) went on with the
recording of the case. This case of human right violation by Greek
police is also reflected in the Albanian media. We also point out
that the head of Devoll Police Commissariat and the Head of County
Police of Korça also confirmed the allegations of the injured
person. It was impossible for the Albanian citizen to know the
names of the police officers who maltreated him.
Honourable Mr. Kaminis,
Despite the fact that the cases of maltreatment of the Albanian citizens
by the Greek police are forwarded to the Greek Ombudsman Despite
that the highest Greek state authorities do not approve this
violence, there are still elements of discrimination by the Greek
police towards the Albanian emigrants, which is totally
incompatible with the international standards. I have also
informed the relevant authorities of the Council of Europe.
Assuring you for my gratitude and further
cooperation, I remain looking forward to your intervention to stop
this violence of the Greek border police towards the Albanian
citizens.
Please,
accept assurances of my highest consideration,
PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE
Ermir DOBJANI
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