Karelin's death a new wave of anti-Greek propaganda in Albania

Kareli's last letter published
31/03/2014

The Greek newspaper, “To Vima”, published the exclusive letter written by the Albanian prisoner, Ilia Kareli, also known in Albania as Kudret Kume. Kareli stabbed and killed a Greek prison guard after he was not allowed to meet his sick mother, and then he himself died from injuries inflicted by a severe beating.

In the letter he gave to the guardian before stabbing him three times, Kareli writes about what he considers injustice for unfairly losing several years of his life in prison, warning he is ready to take the life of who he considers responsible.

“You are keeping me in prison for so many years just for robbery, without killing anyone. Why didn’t you let me see my mother? You didn’t allow me to have a family. I have been in prison since 1997. Aren’t you satisfied with so many years from my life? I have served a life in prison and four other years working. I should not be punished this long for my mistakes. And yet, you keep me inside. Now I am obliged to take one life from you, since you have taken mine.”

“To Vima” published a picture of this letter which had the blood stains of the guardian who was killed by Kareli. After the interest shown by the Thessalonica Consul and after the reaction of the Albanian authorities, sources from the Greek Prosecution say they will not keep any sides and the truth will be revealed in details. According to the newspaper, the injuries found in the body of the 42-year-old Albanian prisoner were inflicted in two different times. He was firstly injured on his chest, and then he has received electroshock injuries, according to yet unconfirmed sources. It is unclear if most of the injuries were inflicted in the Malandrino prison, or in the Itea police precinct, where he stayed before being transferred at the Nigrita prison in Serres.

Kareli’s body arrived today in Fier, after Greek coroners declared that he had serious injuries in his chest and other parts of the body.

The Greek authorities sent his body to Albania, where Fier coroners made another autopsy of the body.

The report will be given by the Fier Prosecution, while his family retrieved the body for the funeral at the village where he was born.