Albania’s Association of Former Political Prisoners

The new bill targets compensation at former political prisoners who are over 70 years old, but not enough cash has been allocated in the state budget to ensure that the Socialist Party’s election campaign promises before its victory in the June 2013 parliamentary elections will be fulfilled.

Kaziu tried to set himself on fire after making a statement to reporters accusing the centre-left government of Prime Minister Edi Rama of failing to uphold its promises to repay former political prisoners for their suffering.

TV pictures show Kaziu trying to pour a bottle of petrol over himself, before being tackled to the ground by police officers.

Albania's government has pledged to end the hold-ups in compensation payments that have angered former political prisoners in the country. “The problem is much bigger than our ability to resolve it immediately,” Prime Minister Rama said.

“We will try first to close the wounds of their moral mistreatment while proceeding with the material compensation,” he added.