21 January 2011 Tirana protest shootings

On 21 January 2011 an opposition protest in front of the Prime Minister's office in Tirana ended with four people killed by gunfire (Aleks Nika, Ziver Veizi, Hekuran Deda, Faik Myrtaj). The protest was led by the Socialist opposition under Edi Rama, then in opposition; the government was led by Sali Berisha (Democratic Party). The European Court of Human Rights later found the state responsible for the killing and for failing to investigate it, and found Republic Guard officers used firearms (Top Channel, reporting on ECHR ruling, Nov 2023).

The first-instance trial of Ndrea Prendi and Agim Llupo ended in February 2013 with acquittals; prosecutors had sought 23 and 25 years. The Court of Appeal convicted both of a lesser homicide offence (1 and 3 years reported); the Supreme Court upheld that verdict and rejected the prosecution request. Sources disagree on the charge (manslaughter vs negligent homicide) and on which victims were named.

In March 2024 the Supreme Court transferred the reopened investigation to SPAK (reported). SPAK registered the procedure in 2024 and summoned Berisha in November 2025 as a person with knowledge. Berisha denied ordering fire. Basha was also questioned as a person with knowledge. No new charge against any named person was found in the sources retrieved.