Five deaths in 70 days: What is happening in Albanian prisons?

The police announced this morning that a prisoner convicted of domestic violence has died at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Center, after being admitted to the ICU due to cardiac arrest.

This marks the fifth death since the end of January reported by the General Directorate of Prisons, mostly linked to health problems. Just two days ago, on April 3, another detainee, Medat Spahiu, died in the same department from a pulmonary embolism.

Earlier, on March 30, life-sentenced prisoner Hysni Qamil Repaj was urgently transferred to the Korçë Regional Hospital but could not survive following a sudden deterioration of his condition. On March 20, a 41-year-old arrested for a minor criminal offense died in the Security Block in Tirana. Authorities said natural causes are suspected, but investigations continue. The first case in this series occurred on January 25, when a 20-year-old died in the Shkodër prison.

Five deaths in such a short period have raised questions about what is happening in Albanian prisons, particularly regarding inmates with health issues and whether they receive adequate medical care while serving their sentences. Authorities have not yet issued a full statement linking all these cases, but investigations for each death are ongoing.

Timeline of recent deaths:

April 5: Prisoner Hajri Ramazan Robi died around 05:00 in the ICU of Mother Teresa University Hospital Center due to cardio-respiratory arrest.

April 3: Detainee Medat Spahiu died around 14:10 in the ICU of the same hospital due to a right pulmonary embolism.

March 30: Life-sentenced prisoner Hysni Qamil Repaj (born January 15, 1962, in Shkodër) was urgently taken to Korçë Regional Hospital. His condition worsened during examination, resulting in cardio-respiratory arrest. Despite medical intervention, he could not be revived.

March 20: B.P., 41, arrested on March 18, 2026, for attempted theft, died around 05:45 at the Security Block in Tirana. Natural causes are suspected; circumstances are under investigation.

January 25: Nicolae Ionnut Erion Deliver (born March 23, 2005, in Romania, residing in Shkodër) died in the Shkodër prison.

These cases have sparked concern over the health and safety of inmates in Albanian prisons.

“KORÇA BOOM”