Killing of Klodian Rasha by State Police officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj (Tirana, December 2020)
Status: Convicted at appeal (18 years, 12 effective, Tirana Court of Appeal, reported March 2022). Further High Court appeal possible; outcome not found.
Summary
Klodian Rasha, aged 25, was shot by Nevaldo Hajdaraj, an officer of the State Police 'Shqiponja' unit, in the early hours of December 2020 in Tirana. Reporting gives the date as 8 December 2020 (Shqiptarja, Balkanweb, abcnews) and 9 December 2020 (Exit.al); this file uses 8 December with the conflict noted. Reports say a police colleague told Rasha to stop, he ran, and he was shot; prosecutors reportedly relied on footage showing him running and shot in the back.
The case was tried in Tirana. The first-instance court in July 2021 sentenced Hajdaraj to 15 years, reduced to 10 years because of an abbreviated trial (Exit.al, 14 Jul 2021). The Tirana Court of Appeal in March 2022 sentenced him to 18 years, reduced to 12 years because of the abbreviated trial (Shqiptarja, 16 Mar 2022), and rejected the self-defence argument, saying Rasha had no weapon (per search summary of the same reporting). Reports say the appeal reasoning was published about four months late, which opened a route to the High Court; no High Court decision was found.
The family said it no longer trusted the justice system (reported). Sources differ on the first-instance figure (one search summary cites 13 years and 4 months, abcnews.al) and on the prosecution's request (Top Channel headline: 13 years; other reports: 20 years).
Key facts
- Victim: Klodian Rasha, 25, shot dead in Tirana (date given as 8 Dec 2020 by most sources; 9 Dec by Exit.al).
- Accused: Nevaldo Hajdaraj, State Police officer ('Shqiponja' unit, as reported).
- First instance, Tirana court, reported 14 Jul 2021: 15 years, reduced to 10 years via abbreviated trial (Exit.al).
- Appeal, Tirana Court of Appeal, reported 16 Mar 2022: 18 years, reduced to 12 years via abbreviated trial (Shqiptarja).
- Reported reasoning of the appeal: Rasha had no weapon and posed no danger to the officer's life; defence request to drop intentional murder rejected (per search summary of Shqiptarja reporting; not verified in full text).
- Protests followed the killing; reported police arrests of 59 people and investigations into 116 others (per search summary; not verified in full text).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- A court decision of the Tirana Court of Appeal convicting Hajdaraj and imposing 18 years (reported 16 Mar 2022, Shqiptarja).
- A first-instance Tirana court decision imposing 15 years, reduced to 10 (reported 14 Jul 2021, Exit.al).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the officer shot a man who was running away and unarmed (as stated in the appeal reasoning and prosecution position as reported).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationAlleged that the shooting was intentional murder, not self-defence (prosecution and court position as reported).
- AllegationFamily alleged the killing was premeditated (as reported, from the father).
Open questions (4)
- Whether a High Court (Gjykata e Larte) decision exists on Hajdaraj's appeal.
- Which first-instance figure is correct (10 effective per Exit.al versus 13 years 4 months per an abcnews search summary).
- Whether the date of the killing is 8 or 9 December 2020.
- Whether any internal AMP or State Police disciplinary decision was issued against Hajdaraj or colleagues (not found).
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Defence of Hajdaraj: he said he had seen a weapon in Rasha's hands (per search summary; source not fetched). The court of appeal rejected the self-defence argument.
Timeline
Full timeline →Police
Klodian Rasha shot dead by State Police officer in Tirana
Shot in the early hours; reports give 8 Dec (most) or 9 Dec 2020 (Exit.al). Mass protests followed.
Court
Tirana court sentences Hajdaraj to 15 years, 10 effective
Abbreviated trial reduces term; prosecution reportedly sought 20 years (Exit.al). Another source gives 13 years 4 months.
Court
Tirana Court of Appeal sentences Hajdaraj to 18 years, 12 effective
Appeal increases term; self-defence argument rejected; High Court appeal route opened (reported).
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 4 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 4 sources
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 14 Jul 2021
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 16 Mar 2022
- Publisher
- Top Channel
- Date
- 2021
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- Dec 2020