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OSCE Roundtable in Tirana/ Around 3 thousand convicts will vote on May 11

2025-04-24 18:27:00, Politikë CNA

On the eve of the parliamentary elections on 11 May, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Prisons, today organized a training for around 45 senior prison staff on the right to vote in penal institutions.

The purpose of this training was to support the prison administration to ensure the protection and facilitation of the exercise of the right to vote by prisoners and detainees, in accordance with national legislation and international standards.

The program covered a wide range of topics, from the legal framework governing the right to vote for prisoners, practical measures to facilitate voting in prisons, to best practices and lessons learned from previous elections. Participants engaged in interactive sessions to promote the participation of eligible prisoners in elections. The training also addressed the logistical and legal challenges faced by prison administrations during elections and provided practical guidance on ensuring transparency, accessibility and security during the voting process.

“Today, we focus on one of the cornerstones of democracy: the right to vote. In Albania, the Constitution and the Electoral Code guarantee this right to all citizens, including prisoners, except in cases where this right has been expressly removed by court decision. Therefore, it is your responsibility, both legally and ethically, to ensure that this right is respected and enabled,” said Ambassador Michel Tarran, Head of the OSCE Presence.

The Director General of Prisons, Klevis Qose, said that there are a total of 3,027 people, convicted and detained, who are expected to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in 21 institutions for the execution of criminal decisions.

"The electoral process in penitentiary institutions will be conducted in full compliance with constitutional and international standards, thanks to cooperation with the OSCE. I demand maximum seriousness from all employees involved in this process. Above all, it must be guaranteed that the will of each individual is expressed freely and without any kind of influence," he said.

The training is part of the OSCE Presence’s support to law enforcement authorities in the run-up to the May 11 elections. Most recently, the Presence helped strengthen the capacities of the State Police, donated computer equipment to SPAK to support investigative teams in the field, trained prosecutors in investigating electoral crimes, and organized a roundtable discussion, where civil society organizations shared their findings and recommendations on ways to combat electoral crimes with relevant state institutions./CNA