TIRANA – A majority’s ruled parliament has adopted new punishments for citizens who are found guilty of ‘spreading infectious diseases’.
The members of the parliamentary law committee decided on Tuesday to set penalties from 5 to 10 years in prison for those who spread infectious diseases. According to the amendment to article 10 of the Criminal Code, failure to abide by authorities’ orders or decisions during pandemics or natural disasters is a criminal offense and is punishable by fine or deprivation of liberty of up to 1 year. In addition, those not complying with the order of authorized bodies on obligatory quarantine during emergency situations will be punished by administrative measure or imprisonment up to 3 years.
Further on people who act against responsible bodies’ orders on prevention or combat of infectious diseases, resulting in spread of the infection will be sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment or more. But when this criminal offense has resulted in serious life threatening consequences, a sentence of 3-10 years in prison is predicted. Also, this action will be punished by 5-15 years in prison when it has caused the death of one or more people.
In another event former Interior Minister Fatmir Xhafaj came out against the Socialist Party majority to which he belongs regarding amendments proposed for the so called Anti-KCK (Grab What You Can) package in the Criminal Code.
According to Xhafaj, the proposals of the government are unnecessary and miswritten, and for that reason he required public consultation with experts on this matter.
The maverick Socialist MP, a former interior minister and close associate of PM Edi Rama, said that whoever undertakes moves to change Albania’s legal frames should be careful because, as he said, they affect citizens’ lives.
The so called Anti-KCK initiative has been launched by Premier Edi Rama who despite harsh criticism by opposition and certain circles of civil society continues his drive to make it a law. Parliament is expected to take action on the Anti-KCK package in plenary session on Thursday.
“We must be careful about these initiatives despite who undertake them be they the government or MPs because the consequences on people’s life are vital. They must not be result of the emotions of the politics of the day,” said Xhafaj. /argumentum.al
