Communities under Pressure - Findings from Valbona, Albania
The Center for Human Rights of the American Bar Association (the Center) investigated reports that activists and community members who objected to the proliferation of hydropower plants (HPPs) in Valbona, Albania were facing consistent harassment from local state and company actors...A rapid increase in the construction of small HPPs in Valbona has raised concerns among members of the impacted communities. There are three HPPs under active construction in Valbona, with reports of 11 additional HPPs underway...This report describes instances of alleged harassment as reported by respondents...Gener 2, along with its subsidiary Dragobia Energy, is the company in charge of the two largest HPPs in Valbona that are under active construction. Activists and community members who are outspoken against the company reported that these companies have been actively pressuring them. For example, Gener 2 has filed a lawsuit against the local environmental NGO, TOKA and its Director, Catherine Bohne, for defamation over their public reporting and organizing on the issues surrounding the HPPs...The security company hired by Gener 2, Brecani Security (Brecani), was responsible for physically assaulting one of the crew members of a TV station as they filmed Gener 2’s construction crews continuing to build an HPP despite a court order to stop work...