Manja: There is no evidence of intimidation of witnesses by Balluku

2026-03-09 10:55:00, Politikë CNA

The Chairman of the Laws Committee, Ulsi Manja, has reacted to the allegations of witness intimidation by Belinda Balluku, stating that the materials presented do not indicate such a fact.

Speaking at the meeting of the SP parliamentary group, Manja emphasized that, respecting the preservation of investigative secrecy, only a record has been presented where two citizens talk to each other regarding the testimony that one of them gave during the investigation at the prosecutor's office.

According to him, from the minutes and the statements of the citizen herself who was allegedly intimidated, it does not appear that she was threatened or intimidated by MP Balluku. Manja added that the mention of the "cabinet" as a source of intimidation is an abstract notion, while the criminal investigation is not conducted on the basis of such a term.

He also emphasized that in the aforementioned statement, the citizen did not say that she would stand by her testimony and would not change it, even if there were attempts at intimidation.

Manja also addressed the procedural status of witnesses, explaining that the person in question has the status of a defendant in this criminal proceeding. According to him, in such cases, the statements of a defendant in the same criminal proceeding should be taken with caution.

"In keeping with the preservation of investigative secrecy, we are presented with a report where two citizens talk to each other regarding the testimony that one of them gave during the investigation at the prosecutor's office, which claims that this witness was intimidated. It does not exist from the report or from the statements of the citizen that she was intimidated by the deputy, and when it is said by the cabinet, it is an abstract notion. The criminal investigation is not conducted on the cabinet, but also on the claim that she was intimidated by powerful people, in what was stated it does not say I will stand by my testimony and I will not change it even if I am intimidated today.

The second one is regarding the witnesses. It is important to say that she has the status of a defendant in this criminal proceeding. The statements of a defendant in the same proceeding are taken with reservation," said Manja./ CNA