The month of October closed with a heavy toll of tragic events in the country, with over 10 cases ending in death. From the murder of a cook by a pizzeria, to the knife fight in Babrru where 40-year-old Hajdar Ismailgeci lost his life, the fatal accident in Vlora where a 17-year-old was hit and killed by a Porsche, the absurd incident in Berat after a fight over a horse, to the two young men killed in Manëz over a coffee – October brought an alarming picture of violence and loss of human lives.
Meanwhile, the new Minister of Interior and the State Police started October with actions against electric scooters, punishing their users in the name of “road safety.” Now, in November, the next campaign has focused on illegal parking and occupying public spaces, with 10 people arrested and 123 others prosecuted for illegally using sidewalks and streets as car washes or parking lots.
A reality that leaves room for irony: every month, the Police seem to announce a new campaign – while real crimes continue to occur without interruption. It remains to be seen whether November will be quieter than October, or whether the focus will once again remain on parked cars, while people's lives continue to be lost in collisions and tragedies.
