Top Channel 'nxin' Fatmir Xhafajn: Before attacking the media, explain the 10-story building in Pogradec

"Between crime, business, business groups in this field and the criminalized media..."

This reaction of the former Minister of the Interior, Fatmir Xhafajt to the national television Top Channel, after 6 years of broadcasting the documentary Inside Story, is not so random. 

The public release coincides with the new political ambition that Xhafaj has recently revealed through a special anti-corruption commission, which within the ranks of the socialists is seen as a return to the former Minister of the Interior.

And to achieve this, Xhafaj must clear his past, where Inside Story has an inevitable role. The documentary, which Xhafaj refers to with the jargon of fines, reflects a far-fetched argument, a barren argument, a criminal charge, in the face of dozens of facts published in the 2018 documentary. Top Channel could overlook an answer to Fatmir Xhafaj, if he would speak ethically, without insults, just as he fragilely explained to the public his brother's innocence, on the charge of drug trafficking.

Since the years have passed since the broadcast of Inside Story, Top Channel has decided to once again return attention to the key points, to evaluate the opinion on journalistic professionalism.

For the documentary that Xhafaj accuses, it would be appropriate to explain how Valbona Duka was raped when he was an investigator in 1985.

"Fatmir Xhafa interrogated me, he was my brother's investigator. When Enver Hoxha died in '85, he and his friends toasted the fact that Enver Hoxha had died, they drank brandy. Someone spied on them and they arrested him, sentenced him to 19 years. The day he was going to get married, he was arrested

As in Enver's time, there was also pressure. Fatmir Xhafaj did this to me...biting me, tell me where you left the gold and tell me where you are going with your brother", Valbona Duka told Inside Story at the time.

The public demands transparency from Xhafaj, as he is the actual owner of a 10-story building in Pogradec, which is legally in the name of his notary wife's brother. It was built in 2003, at the same time when Xhafaj was the deputy of this city and the municipality was run by socialists, an open conflict of interest.

"They say the palace of Xhafa".

"In Xhafa, that's what they say"

"Xhafa built it"

"Fatmir Xhafaj's palace, that's all I know" - residents told Inside Story.

Fatmir Xhafaj was not asked, nor did he speak in the Opinion interview, about the three reports against him, during his time as minister in 2004-2005, for the abuse of public funds for the construction of offices and a school for the re-education of imprisoned youth. . His files were closed by the prosecutor Vexhi Muçmata, who was later rewarded with the post of deputy in the Socialist Party. For lesser charges than that, in today's SPAK, Xhafaj's colleagues are behind bars.

In 2005, when he was a minister, the decision was made to establish a prison for minors in the constituency of Xhafaj. The fund was 47 million ALL, but after signing the contract, the firm presented a new estimate where only 1/3 of the works were undertaken with that money.

Before the confrontation of Top Channel, Xhafaj must clarify the public opinion about what his brother's interests were in gambling with the two brothers Gramoz and Besnik Murataj. These last two also appear in the drug trafficking file, where Agron Xhafaj is also involved.

Part of Xhafaj's debate with Luneda Sufali

Xhafaj: I don't know what you do there...?

Sufali: Cleanser

Xhafaj: Then leave the hall

Sufali: I have to refer to the committee

Xhafaj: I decide that. Back off, I'll cut the commission if I say so.

Sufali: I don't go out.

As one of the drafters of the justice reform, Xhafaj could spare the attack on Top Channel, and explain how he had added an article to the Code of Criminal Procedure to prevent his brother's extradition to Italy, a charge also raised by Party officials. Democratic.

Fatmir Xhafaj emphasizes that Inside Story was related to crime, but the truth is that this documentary is the only one in Albania that has investigated the most dangerous gangs, including those who did business with Xhafaj's family members.

This editorial is not to clean up Top Channel, but to help Fatmir Xhafajn to forget his past, which, as he says, has haunted him for the last 22 years./  Top Channel