Schnellrecherche der SFH-Länderanalyse vom 1. Juni 2015 zu Albanien: Organisierte Kriminalität Fragen an die SFH-Länderanalyse: Werden ehemalige Geheimdienstmitarbeiter, welche in Durres tätig waren, von kriminellen Banden/Organisationen/Mafia verfolgt? Können betroffene Personen vom albanischen Staat geschützt werden? Die Informationen beruhen auf einer zeitlich begrenzten Recherche (Schnellrecher- che) in öffentlich zugänglichen Dokumenten, die uns derzeit zur Verfügung stehen. 1 Verfolgung durch kriminelle Banden/Organisationen Gemäss dem amerikanischen Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) hat in den letzten fünf Jahren die Kriminalität in Albanien zugenommen und die organisierte Kri- minalität ist immer noch aktiv. Sprengstoffanschläge haben 2014 gemäss OSAC zwar um 15 Prozent abgenommen, trotzdem kam es zu 72 Anschlägen. Auch das US De- partment of State International Travel warnt vor der im ganzen Land aktiven organi- sierten Kriminalität und geht davon aus, dass Korruption im ganzen Land verbreitet ist. Gemäss einer im September 2014 von Jane’s Intelligence Review publizierten Studie sind Gruppen der organisierten Kriminalität in Albanien sowohl mit der Geschäftswelt wie auch mit der Politik vernetzt. Sie haben es erfolgreich geschafft, vor allem mit Bestechung zum Teil von hochrangigen Polizisten, die Strafverfolgungsbehörden zu neutralisieren oder zu schwächen. Im Waffen- und im Drogenhandel hätten korrupte Polizei- oder Armeeangehörige Schlüsselrollen inne oder würden kriminelle Aktivitä- ten unterstützen. Der Markt für Auftragsmörder floriert. Diese arbeiten bevorzugt mit Sprengstoffanschlägen und operieren vor allem in den Küstenstädten Vlorë und Durrës. Seit den Wahlen 2013 haben Morde und Anschläge zugenommen, die von Auftragsmördern durchgeführt wurden. Zwischen September und Dezember 2013 zählte Jane’s Intelligence Review anhand von Medienberichten 22 Morde oder Mord- versuche mit Sprengstoff. In den ersten sechs Monaten des Jahres 2014 wurden sechs Geschäftsleute ermordet. Eine von Jane’s Intelligence Review zusammenge- stellte Liste mit albanischen Mordopfern zeigt, dass sich unter den Mordopfern Ange- hörige und ehemalige Angehörige der Sicherheitsbehörden, Geschäftsleute oder auch Richter befinden. Im Februar 2013 wurde der Chief Commissioner der Polizei in Mafiamanier hinge- richtet. Er war bereits das dritte hochrangige Opfer aus Polizeikreisen innerhalb von acht Monaten. Bereits 2012 wies Balkan Insight, eine der führenden Nachrichtenpor- tale auf dem Balkan, darauf hin, dass die Mordrate in den Jahren 2010 und 2011 im Vergleich zu den beiden vorangehenden Jahren um 40 Prozent angestiegen ist. 2011 hatte Albanien unter den Balkanländern die höchste Mordrate. Balkan Insight gibt in einem Artikel 2014 einen detaillierten Einblick in die Verknüp- fung der organisierten Kriminalität mit der Geschäftswelt. Im Februar 2015 wurde in Tirana ein Anschlag auf den Innenminister verübt, der sich seit seiner Amtsübernahme sehr für die Bekämpfung von Korruption und gegen die organisierte Kriminalität einsetzt. Overseas Security Advisory Council, 8. Mai 2015: «Crime Threats. In 2014, the overall crime and safety situation continues to re- main a concern. Crime has continued to increase over the last five years, mainly due to the large increase in thefts and burglaries. Street crime is fairly common in urban areas, predominantly at night. The most notable increase in crime has been burglaries, theft and domestic violence claims. Violent crime has seen a continual de- crease since 2011. Recent crime statistics indicate a decrease in violent crimes (mur- der, attempted murder, robberies by force, armed robberies). Albanian police and security forces continue to achieve success in combating illegal weapons and drug trade but organized criminal activity still operates in Albania; while it re- mains a serious problem, violence related to it rarely affects the international com- munity. The previous increasing trend of the use of explosives, particularly, remotely detonated explosives placed in vehicles and at private residences has declined 15 percent but is still alarmingly high with 72 explosions occurring. The majority of these incidents occurred in Fushe-Kruje, approximately 20 kilometers from Tirana. These appear to target specific individuals and to be related to internal disputes over busi- ness, criminal, or political activity and have not targeted the international community.» Quelle: OSAC, Albania 2015 Crime and Safety Report, 8. Mai 2015: www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=17616 . US Department of State International Travel, 6. Januar 2015: «Organized criminal activity and corruption occur in many regions of Albania . Police and news outlets often report small-scale, sporadic incidents of violence. U.S. government employees are currently prohibited from travelling to the southern town of Lazarat, which has historically been one of the largest marijuana producing regio ns in Europe. In June 2014 police conducted a large-scale counternarcotics operation in Lazarat that spanned for several days. During the operation, police came under fire from residents with financial and criminal interests in marijuana cultivation . The security situation has improved since the June operation but remains volatile, and police ability to protect and assist travelers in and near Lazarat is still limited.» Quelle: U.S Department of State International Travel – Albania Country Specific Information, 6. Januar 2015: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/albania.html . Albanien – Organisiertes Verbrechen – Schnellrecherche – 1. Juni 2015 Seite 2 von 14 Jane‘s Intelligence Review, September 2014: (S. 46) «Albanian criminal groups that operate in European countries are often involved in a range of criminal activities, whereas those active within Albania have a ten- dency to specialize and focus on one criminal activity. Moreover, within Albania, such groups have penetrated both business and politics, succeeding in neutral- ising or degrading law enforcement agencies by corrupting high-ranking police officers. Indeed, in certain criminal activities, such as arms and drug trafficking, corrupt police and army officers either assist or have had leading rol es in crimi- nal operations.» (S. 44) «Meanwhile, a market for contract killings using remote-controlled improvised explosive devices (IEDs) is flourishing in Albania, particularly in the coastal cit- ies of Vlorë and Durrës. (…) Vlorë/Durrës: key ports for illegal exports, notable for increasing incidence of contract killings using IEDs.» (S. 45) Albanien – Organisiertes Verbrechen – Schnellrecherche – 1. Juni 2015 Seite 3 von 14 «The phenomenon of contract killings has increasingly affected the Albanian business community and society more widely since around 2012, with a notable increase in murders since the 2013 general election. IHS Jane’s analysis of press reporting between September and December 2013 shows that there were approxi- mately 22 murders or attempted murders using explosives, and in the first half of 2014, six businessmen were killed. Killings of businessmen connected to the con- struction industry, using explosives, have been particularly notable since 2012. (S. 46)» Quelle: Jane’s Intelligence Review, High Price: Albanian's trade in illegal drugs and arms, September 2014, S. 44-46: www.academia.edu/8005348/High_Price_Albanians_trade_in_ille- gal_drugs_and_arms. Balkan Insight, 25. Februar 2013: «Lamaj’s death follows the murder of the police chief of the town of Shijak, Adem Tahiri, in September, and the killing of Musa Skura, the head of the serious crime unit in the police department of the Mat region in January. Sadetin Fishta, the head of Albania’s police union, told Balkan Insight that the murders of po lice officers highlight the dangers they face. “The fact that three officers have been killed means that we are not able to protect ourselves anymore,” he said. “When crime hits a police officer, the whole state receives a blow,” Fishta added. Opposition leader Edi Rama blamed the murder on the government, in a reaction published on his Twitter account. “Another commissioner killed in the center of Tirana. How many more lives will the treachery of the state toward the police cost?” he asked. Fishta said tha t the police union had repeatedly called for an increase in criminal penalties for attacks on officers, but little had been done to implement this. “Although police can receive protection if they are threatened, the fact that murders continue shows that we have fallen one step behind criminals,” he concluded. Lamaj is survived by his wife and teenage daughter. He will be laid to rest on Monday with state honours at the Martyrs of the Nation cemetery in Tirana.» Quelle: Balkan Insight, Albania Police Chief Murdered in Mafia-Style Hit, 25. Februar 2013: www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-police-chief-murdered-in-mafia-style-hit. Balkan Insight, 7. September 2012: «The study, "Foretold Insecurity, Crime Tendencies in Albania from 2008 -2011," shows that since 2009, Albania has seen marked growth in violent crimes like murder, battery, robbery and theft. Gjergji Vurmo, an expert at IDM and author of the report, told Balkan Insight that the data underscores not only a failure of law enforcement agencies, but also of politicians and Albanian society with its distrust of the rule of law. “The data shows clearly a worsening tendency for all crime statistics analyzed in the study,” Vurmo said. “Crime prevention is not only