Arrest of Kevi Muçollari/ Protest in Çërrava

2025-11-11 12:40:00, Qyteti im CNA

In the center of the village of Çërravë, residents gathered today in protest to demand the release of Kevi Muçollari, who was arrested after the incident that occurred at the last meeting of the Pogradec Municipal Council. According to residents, the incident began after a heated debate between councilors and village representatives regarding the issue of land that is expected to be leased for the installation of solar panels.

They claim that Muçollari was provoked during the meeting and that his arrest is unjust, even politically motivated. The protesters have stated that their goal is to protect the village's lands and oppose the installation of solar panels, which they say would harm the livelihood of the residents. They warn that they will continue the protests, even in the city of Pogradec, until their fellow villager is released.

" I was present at the city council meeting and the councilor's reaction was unfair. It was not an insult because we say "legena" all day and it was not an insult for the councilor to react in that way. We ask the prosecutor in the case to release Kevin as soon as possible. Kevin was in support of the residents and in my opinion the arrest was political. It has nothing to do with the reaction that said "you are legena". As long as you vote in favor, that's how you are. The councilor reacted badly by standing up. The other councilors did not stand up, they accepted the insult. If he had not stood up, the incident would not have happened ," said a resident.

"I am protesting today like all my friends to protect the village, don't put solar panels in. If they put them in, we have nowhere to put them, the village is finished. Kevin, let it go, we will continue to stay here, we will go and protest in Pogradec as well ," said another resident.

" The beginning of this protest today is for the release of the son of our village. He was unjustly arrested. I was present at the municipal council myself and he was provoked by a municipal councilor because at that meeting a vote was taken in favor of the issue of the lands of the village of Çërravë, which is a long-standing issue. We were irritated but the provocation was from the municipal councilor himself. The councilor made the municipality strong by standing up against us because he is one of the municipality's employees, paid, employed, that's all ," declared a resident.

Independent councilor Arbër Male also participated in the protest, requesting the intervention of law enforcement agencies for the immediate release of Kevi Muçollari, emphasizing that he was defending the rights of the residents of Çërrava.

" Today, together with the residents of the village of Çerava, we are protesting for the release of Kevi Muçllari, who yesterday was defending the property rights of these residents and their economic activities. Even though he was provoked by a councilor after he was fleeing, he was arrested by political order. I call on law enforcement agencies to immediately release Kevi Muçllari, otherwise we, as members of the UN and the residents, will be defending the rights of Kevi and the residents of Çerava ," declared Male.

The residents of Çërrava say they will not retreat until Kevi Muçollari is released and the decision on the use of their land is reconsidered.

They demand transparency from the authorities and respect for the rights of the local community, while emphasizing that today's protest is just the beginning of a determined stance to protect their village./ CNA