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The heart of the late Saimir Sula, who passed away in Spain in 2020, has been brought back to the homeland. The process of repatriating the deceased's heart was completed today.
Following the request of his sister, Majlinda Sula, for the return of her late brother Saimir Sula's heart from Barcelona, the Ministry of Justice, the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, and the General Prosecutor's Office, in collaboration with the Spanish judicial authorities, carried out the repatriation process of Mr. Saimir Sula's heart on July 15, 2023, at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tirana, local media say.
In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Justice provided details about this process and stated that from this moment on, it is the responsibility of the Tirana Prosecutor's Office and the Institute of Forensic Medicine to carry out all further investigative actions.
Statement from the Ministry of Justice:
The process of repatriation of the late Saimir Sula's heart has been successfully completed.
Following the press statement of the Ministry of Justice regarding the request of Mrs. Majlinda Sula for the return of her late brother Saimir Sula's heart from Barcelona, Spain, to Albania, we inform that:
The Ministry of Justice, the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, and the General Prosecutor's Office, in cooperation with the Spanish judicial authorities, successfully completed the process of repatriating the heart of the late Mr. Saimir Sula on July 15, 2023, at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tirana.
As the coordinator of the process, the Ministry of Justice, and as the competent authority, the General Prosecutor's Office, in collaboration with the Spanish judicial authorities, inform the media and the public that the process for the return of Mr. Saimir Sula's heart to Albania has been successfully completed today.
On July 12, 2023, a group of representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Tirana Prosecutor's Office, the General Prosecutor's Office, the Institute of Forensic Medicine, and the representative of the Albanian Embassy in Madrid received the organ (heart) of the late Saimir Sula from the Spanish side and completed all necessary procedures according to the standards provided in international acts and the procedural-penal legislation of both countries.
The Ministry of Justice has been in continuous coordination with Spanish authorities, but it was only in May 2023 that the decision was made by the 16th Court of Barcelona to allow the repatriation of the organ (heart). The Tirana Prosecutor's Office, in record time from the moment of receiving this decision, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the General Prosecutor's Office, took measures to carry out the procedure for the repatriation of the heart. The prosecutor of the case, at the same time, in fulfillment of legal obligations, informed the family members about their presence during the repatriation process.
Considering the public sensitivity of this case, the Ministry of Justice has been in continuous coordination with Spanish authorities to ensure the repatriation of the organ (heart). On the other hand, the Ministry of Justice has continuously and transparently informed the family members, in accordance with legal restrictions and investigative secrecy, in conditions where the case is under the process of the Tirana Prosecutor's Office.
We understand the emotions and pain of the family members, and in this specific case, the Ministry of Justice only facilitates the process in collaboration with the Tirana Prosecutor's Office. The Ministry of Justice has fulfilled its duty in this process as the central authority, with full transparency, a high sense of responsibility, and humanism. From this moment, it is up to the Tirana Prosecutor's Office and the Institute of Forensic Medicine to carry out all further investigative actions.
We take this opportunity to thank the Spanish judicial authorities as well, who have expedited and supported the successful realization of the repatriation of the organ (heart) of the late Saimir Sula.