The killing of the Portuguese tourist in Ksamil has brought back to the center of debate not only safety in tourist areas, but also the way Albanian society reacts in the face of the loss of life. In an analysis with strong tones, Kreshnik Spahiu questions the public silence over killings and the contrast with high-profile mobilizations for other issues.
The incident in Ksamil and the debate over the country’s image
Spahiu argues that the killing of the foreign tourist will cause damage to Albania’s international perception, warning that foreign media may treat the incident as proof of insecurity in the country.
Along the same lines, he compares the way such events are handled in other European countries, claiming that there the crime beat passes through stronger ethical and professional filters to avoid damaging the national image.
Comparisons with Europe, between perception and reality
In his analysis, Spahiu goes further with direct comparisons between Albania and several European cities, saying that in certain places there is greater danger on the streets and in public spaces than in Albanian cities.
He presents these comparisons as a counterweight to the narrative that, after a serious crime in Albania, the country is immediately stigmatized in foreign opinion as unsafe and backward.
Accusation against the state over the protection of life
The strongest point of Spahiu’s intervention is linked to the failure of institutions to protect life. He refers to Article 21 of the Constitution, which states that a person’s life is protected by law, but raises doubt over whether this protection actually works for citizens.
According to him, the problem is not only legal or institutional, but also social: the lack of reaction in the face of killings and the loss of human lives shows a deep distortion of public sensitivity.
The question fueling controversy: people or flamingos?
At the end of the analysis, Spahiu contrasts two completely different public reactions: the absence of protests over killings and the mobilization to protect birds, specifically mentioning flamingos.
He uses this contrast to level a harsh accusation at Albanian society: that it is showing more energy for symbolic causes than for human life. It is a polemical formulation, but one that directly touches on a long-running debate over the selectivity of public reaction.
The killing in Ksamil remains a grave event with consequences beyond the crime pages, because it affects safety, the country’s image, and trust in the state.
That is precisely where the essence of the debate opened by Spahiu is focused: how much is life worth in Albania’s public and institutional response?