A physical altercation marked the last meeting of the Pogradec Municipal Council, following the approval of a decision allowing the leasing of 34,660 hectares of land in Çërrava. The incident occurred after numerous debates and objections from local residents, with tension reaching its peak when councilor Engjël Shyti and resident Kevi Muçllarit clashed with fists.
This prompted the police to intervene and escort the two people away.
In a statement to the media, Muçllari explained that the tension began after Shyti's threats and the moment when the decision was approved, while he and other residents were against the measure.
"As you saw yourself, there was a moment of tension because Engjël Shyti, a councilor, stood up and threatened us because of what I said. It was a moment of irritation after the decision was approved, where we were totally against it. The mayor said 'these are whims, this is untrue', until the moment when the situation was calm and rational. All the arguments we presented are well-known and very reasonable. But at these moments the mayor said that this is whim and let's vote on it. From this moment on, the tension with the member of the municipal council occurred," said Muçllari.
He also added that they will not leave this issue alone and that the councilors will have to be held accountable.
"It is certain that we will not leave this issue alone. Even the councilors must be held responsible for their stance," declared Muçllari.
The decision to approve the land was made with 20 votes in favor, after numerous debates in the council, and has caused dissatisfaction in the local community, which considers the measure unfair and one-sided.
The incident in Pogradec follows a similar incident that occurred a month earlier in Vlora. In late September, an extraordinary meeting of the Vlora Municipal Council was accompanied by tensions and incidents, after two young people, whose homes were demolished for the construction of the road connecting the port to the Trans-Balkan road, forced their way into the council meeting to express their dissatisfaction. One of them stated that they had not received compensation for the demolished homes for five years, making the situation tense and the incident in Vlora comparable to that in Pogradec.
