The act of kissing the forehead of the accused Veliaj by the actor well-known for many roles in accordance with the criteria of socialist art, Robert Ndrenika, caused a wide public and media reaction. Both Helena Kadare and Robert Ndrenika have ruined the comfort of old age to go to the doors and halls of the courts for the accused, Erjon of the Municipality of Tirana.
What caused even more confusion was Ndrenika's willingness, theatrical we hope, not real, to continue the rest of Veliaj's imprisonment, despite claiming that he did not understand the charges against Veliaj. In short, Ndrenika offered to be Veliaj's stand-in.
We saw a group of individuals – artists, journalists, etc. – paying homage to the accused Veliaj, even shaking hands with the very hand that has apparently signed projects and financing with taxpayers' money.
Previously, we have also seen clergymen speak on holy days about detentions and imprisonment, while the Supreme Court was set in motion to "clarify once and for all how and when a person is imprisoned."
Even earlier, in the Saimir Tahiri case or the Belinda Balluku case, we saw lineups of militants and endless applause when these individuals were informed of the charges or placed under investigation.
With applauding rallies, which sometimes even created an environment of threat to the security of special investigative bodies, Veliaj was escorted or Berisha was presented.
The loss of power to be arrogant is very painful. That is why they create such scenes and scenarios of "love" from militant people for party figures, or with an artistic profile from figures like Veliaj.
But the greatest ugliness occurred in the courtroom, on Friday, May 8. A self-offering for the role of a prison dummy and a puppet, of the hand that voted and signed the demolition of the National Theater building, showed us how deep the decline of integrity and dignity has gone in this country, precisely by leaders of state and institutions who have the profile of Veliaj, Tahiri, Balluku, Rama, Meta and Berisha.
From today, it is no surprise that this country also offers the service of a prison dummy, for the bunch of corrupt people who dare to appear at the doors of prosecutors and courts.
Actor Ndrenika played a beautiful role. Apparently, his artistic career will be sealed and remembered for the most accomplished role of his life, that of the bare-knuckle performance of himself, of the tentative dummy.
