In all 16 buildings were to be torn down according to the decision of the urban management regulatory authority, government spokesman Aldrin Dalipi said Monday. The buildings were constructed over a very important archeological site.
The opposition has accused the government of exploiting the law to harass their supporters.
Most buildings had regular documentation from the time when the town was ruled by right wing opposition, back in 1993.
Around 200 people protested Monday against police trying to tear their buildings down. One family closed themselves inside their home in their attempt to prevent the police from destroying their house.
According to Edlira Çaushi, Director of Albanian Heritage Institute, these buildings were legally authorized by local government but this authorization was nullified by the law. Generally, government has recompensed owners in some similar causes where local government had issued buildings permits which were not in accordance with the law, however, in this case there was no recompense offered.
“The archeological site is very important for this town”, Edlira Çaushi says.
“We are working to prevent the loss of an antique castle. The site contains one of the oldest synagogues in the Balkans.
A British- Israeli organization has offered to finance the reconstruction and protection of the archeological site.
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