A tower and an urban crime in the heart of Tirana, the well-known political names behind it

Another flagrant case of abuse of power and law has erupted in the heart of Tirana. A 16-story tower is attempting to be erected between four existing buildings and next to the “Emin Duraku” school, putting the lives of hundreds of citizens and students at risk, for the sake of the clientelist and corrupt interests of senior Albanian government officials.

This morning, the construction company arrived to start work on the square near the “Emin Duraku” school. This caused an immediate protest from the residents of the three surrounding buildings and the parents of the students. They notified the Police and the Inspectorate of Territorial Protection (IKMT), who intervened at the scene. But the intervention was more symbolic than obstructive for the project.

Residents have filed a request in court to stop the works, and on Monday they are expected to file a complaint with SPAK against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who signed the construction permit in violation of every urban planning law.

From the Ministry of Culture, to "Daja" and Kulla

Behind this building, which is intended to be built in one of the most sensitive areas of the capital, are well-known names in politics and business. The name of Elva Margariti, Minister of Culture, is mentioned alongside that of Agron Lufi – professor of architecture and also her uncle – as co-beneficiaries of this construction scandal.

Meanwhile, controversial figures such as Elvis Roshi and others with great influence in the construction and political sectors also appear behind the scenes. The tower will be built just 7 meters away from existing buildings and adjacent to the school – a decision that challenges not only urban logic, but also every safety norm.

According to the documents obtained, the owners of the firm that will build the tower are Gentian Paruca and Fation Alliu. It seems that Agron Lufi and Minister Margariti have found a way to develop their property through a network of political interests and influences.

Attempts to obtain a building permit for this plot have been made several times in the last 20 years, but have been rejected by previous governments and institutions. The reasons were clear: the location of the plot, the proximity to the school and the character of the area did not allow such a construction. But with the coming to power of Margariti and the help of her uncle, everything seems to have changed.

Strategic Law: A Justification for Corruption?

A legal expert has revealed that the government has passed a law that allows itself to ignore legal building distances for “strategic reasons.” The question that arises is: what strategic reason does this 16-story tower represent? Is Minister Margariti the strategist? Or is it her family and political contacts with the project’s builders?

This is a situation where the law is used as a weapon to justify personal gain and to mask a purely corrupt act.

The buildings near the construction site, two of which were built in 1938, have a fragile structure and are unsuitable for supporting a massive construction so close. According to engineers, any excavation for the tower's foundations could cause cracks or immediate collapse. The danger goes even further: a significant part of the "Emin Duraku" school and the children who study there are actually at risk.

Manipulation of the School Project to make way for the Tower

In order to obtain a building permit, it is said that the initial design of the “Emin Duraku” school was changed in order to slightly move it away from the plot in question, creating an artificial “free space.” A maneuver that did not happen without the knowledge and approval of high-ranking officials and designers with clear interests.

The residents have a single request for officials: to live in the apartments near the school themselves and enjoy the daily sight and noise of a 16-story tower rising a few meters from their balcony.

Meanwhile, for Professor Agron Lufin, they are requesting a special lecture for architecture students, on the topic: "How to destroy a community and an urban space through corruption and greed."