Deputy Interior Minister Andi Mahila has been dismissed from his post after being caught smoking a cigarette inside a closed environment.
The news was initially reported by Top Channel and later confirmed by the Minister of Interior, Albana Koçiu.
Koçiu announced that the complaint had come from a compatriot in New York, who, together with his family, was concerned by the deputy minister's actions. After verification, Mahila was relieved of duty.
"I confirm what has been reported in the press regarding the deputy minister's dismissal. I received a complaint from a compatriot of ours in New York, who, together with his family, had experienced concern over the fact that the deputy minister of the interior was smoking cigarettes in a restaurant. I made the appropriate verification and communicated the deputy minister's dismissal from duty," said Koçiu.
She emphasized that smoking in a bar cannot be called a random mistake, but a violation of the law, especially when committed by a senior official of the Ministry of Interior.
"Anyone can make an unintentional mistake and it can be well understood, but smoking a cigarette inside a bar is not an unintentional mistake, but an unjustifiable violation of the law. Even more so for a leader of an institution like the Ministry of Internal Affairs," the minister added.
Koçiu also said that he has informed the reporting citizen that his concern was taken seriously, guaranteeing that every citizen report will be treated with the same respect and determination.
