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Draft:Murder of Klodian Rasha

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Murder of Klodian Rasha
LocationLaprakë, Tirana, Albania
Date8 December 2020
c. 01:45 (CET)
Attack type
Police shooting, homicide
WeaponService firearm
VictimKlodian Rasha
PerpetratorNevaldo Hajdaraj
MotiveDisputed
VerdictGuilty; 18 years' imprisonment, reduced to 12 years due to abbreviated trial procedure
ConvictionsIntentional murder

The murder of Klodian Rasha (9 October 1995 – 8 December 2020)[1] was the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Albanian man Klodian Rasha by police officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj (born 16 December 1989)[2] in Tirana, Albania, on 8 December 2020. Rasha was shot during an overnight COVID-19 curfew after failing to stop for police near his home in the Laprakë area of the capital. The incident led to several days of protests in Tirana and other Albanian cities, criticism of police conduct, and the resignation of Interior Minister Sandër Lleshaj.

Police initially said that Rasha had not obeyed orders to stop and had been carrying a weapon. They later said that he had been holding an object but not a weapon, while Albanian media reported that a firearm found near the scene did not belong to him. The shooting was investigated by prosecutors and the officer, Nevaldo Hajdaraj, was charged with intentional murder. In July 2021, the Tirana court convicted him and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, reduced to 10 years because of an abbreviated trial procedure. The Court of Appeal later increased the sentence to 18 years, reduced to 12 years, and in July 2025 the Supreme Court of Albania upheld the sentence.

Background

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In late 2020, Albania was under restrictions introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19. These included a nightly curfew, during which citizens were not permitted to move freely except in permitted circumstances. Rasha, a 25-year-old resident of Tirana, was outside during the curfew in the early hours of 8 December 2020 when he was approached by police officers.[3]

The killing took place in the Laprakë area of Tirana, near Rasha's home, on or near Dritan Hoxha Street.[4] According to media reports citing police and investigative material, Rasha ran after being ordered to stop by police officers. Officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj, a member of the "Shqiponjat" police unit, pursued him and opened fire.[5]

Killing

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Rasha was shot in the early hours of 8 December 2020. Police initially stated that he had failed to obey an officer's order to stop and that he had been carrying a weapon. Shortly afterward, police revised their account and said that Rasha had been holding an object but not a weapon.[3] Rasha's family and friends denied that he had been armed.[6]

Albanian media later reported that a pistol had been found near the scene, but that it did not belong to Rasha.[7] Prosecutors later reclassified the case as intentional murder after reviewing evidence, including security-camera footage. Albanian Daily News reported that the Tirana Prosecutor's Office completed its investigation in March 2021 and charged Hajdaraj with intentional murder.[8]

According to Top Channel, prosecutors said that video footage clarified the moment of the shooting and showed Rasha being shot while running away toward the alley of his apartment.[9]

Investigation and trial

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Hajdaraj was arrested shortly after the shooting. Initial reports indicated that he had been suspected of homicide committed in excess of the limits of necessary defence, but prosecutors later changed the charge to intentional murder.[10] Prosecutors requested a 20-year prison sentence, while Hajdaraj requested an abbreviated trial procedure, which under Albanian law allowed a sentence reduction if accepted by the court.[11]

On 14 July 2021, the Tirana court convicted Hajdaraj of intentional murder and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, reduced to 10 years because of the abbreviated procedure.[12][13] Hajdaraj appealed the verdict.[14]

The Court of Appeal later upheld the conviction and increased the sentence to 18 years' imprisonment, reduced to 12 years because of the abbreviated trial procedure.[15] In July 2025, the Supreme Court of Albania rejected Hajdaraj's appeal and left in force the 12-year prison sentence.[16][17]

Protests

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Rasha's killing triggered demonstrations in Tirana and other Albanian cities. On 9 December 2020, hundreds of protesters gathered in Tirana to demand accountability and the resignation of Interior Minister Sandër Lleshaj. Protesters threw objects at the Interior Ministry and set Christmas decorations on fire, while police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.[3] Reuters reported that two police officers and a journalist were slightly injured during the first major clashes.[3]

The protests continued for several days. Demonstrators used slogans such as "I am Klodian" and "Rama go (away)", and some protests turned violent, with stones, flares and firecrackers thrown at police. Police responded with tear gas and water cannon.[18][19]

Civil-society monitors and journalist organizations also raised concerns over police treatment of protesters and reporters covering the demonstrations. The European Federation of Journalists reported that journalists were attacked or detained while covering the protests, and said the protests followed the killing of Rasha by a police officer on 8 December.[20]

Political reactions

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Prime Minister Edi Rama described the shooting as "inexplicable and completely unreasonable" and apologized publicly.[21] On 10 December 2020, Rama announced that Interior Minister Sandër Lleshaj had submitted his resignation and that he had accepted it.[22] International media reported that Lleshaj's resignation came amid protests over the killing.[23]

The opposition accused the government and police leadership of responsibility for the climate that led to the shooting. Protesters and opposition supporters demanded the resignation of Rama as well as Lleshaj.[3]

Human rights response

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The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, expressed concern after the protests that followed the killing. She called on Albanian authorities to investigate allegations of excessive use of force thoroughly, independently and effectively, and said police should distinguish between individuals committing violence and those demonstrating peacefully.[24] The Commissioner also said that attacks on journalists covering protests were serious violations of press freedom and the right to information.[25]

CIVICUS described the demonstrations as protests against police brutality and killing in response to a COVID-19 curfew breach, reporting that protests were held for days in Tirana around the Interior Ministry, Tirana City Hall and other government buildings.[26]

Legacy

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The killing became one of the most prominent cases of police violence in Albania during the COVID-19 pandemic and was widely discussed in relation to police accountability, protest rights and the use of force by law-enforcement officers. The phrase "I am Klodian" was used by protesters and on social media during the demonstrations.[27]

In December 2020, the Municipal Council of Tirana approved naming the street where Rasha was killed after him.[28] One year after the killing, Rasha's family continued to call for full accountability and criticized attempts to portray him as armed or criminal.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "The 1st anniversary of the murder of Klodian Rasha is commemorated". Televizioni Klan – YouTube. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "The unknown profile of the police officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj who killed Klodian Rasha behind his back". Televizioni Klan – YouTube. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Albanians protest after police shot dead a man for violating coronavirus curfew". Reuters. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Investigation Completed, Klodian Rasha Killed Intentionally". Albanian Daily News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Former police officer charged with Klodian Rasha's murder pleads for an abbreviated trial". Euronews Albania. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Man Shot Dead by Police, Friends: He Has Never Had a Gun". Albanian Daily News. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "Footage of the murder of Klodian Rasha is revealed, what happened shortly before the crime". BalkanWeb. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Investigation Completed, Klodian Rasha Killed Intentionally". Albanian Daily News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Klodian Rasha's murder/ Prosecution charges "intentional murder" against police officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj; cameras captured incident". Top Channel. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Officer Who Killed Klodian Rasha Charged with Intentional Murder". Exit News. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Prosecution seeks 20-year jail sentence for former officer who shot Klodian Rasha". Euronews Albania. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Former police officer charged with the murder of Klodian Rasha sentenced to 10 years". Euronews Albania. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Former Albanian police officer jailed for killing that sparked major protests". Euronews. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of Klodian Rasha, the former police officer appeals court decision". BalkanWeb. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Court Gives Decision for Former Policeman Nevaldo Hajdaraj". Albanian Daily News. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Vrasja e Klodian Rashës, Gjykata e Lartë rrëzon rekursin e ish-efektivit Nevaldo Hajdaraj, lë në fuqi dënimin me 12 vite burg". Shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). 3 July 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Klodian Rasha shot dead, Supreme Court rejects appeal of former police officer Nevaldo Hajdaraj". BalkanWeb. 3 July 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "World Digest: Dec. 11, 2020". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Albanian interior minister resigns over police killing". RTÉ News. Reuters. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Albania: Police attack and arrest journalists covering protests". European Federation of Journalists. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "World Digest: Dec. 11, 2020". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Albania's interior minister resigns over fatal police shooting". Euronews. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Albanian interior minister resigns over police killing". RTÉ News. Reuters. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Klodian Rasha murder, HR Commissioner Mijatović: Zero tolerance for police officers involved in acts of violence". Euronews Albania. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Council of Europe: Authorities must prevent further police violence against protesters". Tirana Times. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  26. ↑ "Police brutality and killing in response to COVID-19 curfew breach sparks protests". CIVICUS Monitor. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  27. ↑ "Albanians protesters demand interior minister's resignation". Associated Press. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  28. ↑ "The street where he was killed is named after Klodian Rasha". Gazeta Express. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  29. ↑ "Klodian Rasha's family looks at state for answers". Euronews Albania. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2026.

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