MP Marjana Koçeku has spoken for the first time about the Socialist Party's patronage activists, referring to anonymous profiles on social networks that attack anyone who opposes the government, while calling them "virtual mercenaries."
"We are waiting for your next post," reads a message sent to the MP, prompting her reaction, given the repeated demands to leave her mandate.
"For several days now, I have been facing a virtual army of patronage-mongers and fake profiles on social media who are demanding that I resign," writes Marjana Koçeku. She points out that there are about 800,000 virtual mercenaries organized throughout the power circles.
"It's very easy for me to leave my mandate. But I'm not used to opening the way for evil, which has also taken the form of these virtual mercenaries, organized by their commanders - functionaries of this state - to smear and denigrate me simply because I chose the independence of representation in parliament.
It is said that there are around 800,000 such profiles circulating. Municipalities have become garrisons for these mercenaries, exerting daily pressure through words in comments and posts.
"Never has the word been misused more in the history of this country's democracy. And now, in times of protests, their total mobilization to destroy and denigrate anyone who criticizes the government is noticeable," writes the MP who left the Socialist Party.
Marjana Koçeku says she has chosen to speak out, despite all costs, because otherwise silence would cost her more. According to her, Albania should no longer be a republic of falsehood that fights its own citizens with virtual ghosts.
"I knew that the price of speaking freely would be high, but silence would have cost much more in this republic that seeks to fight its citizens with ghosts, patronizing shadows, and fake profiles. This should not be a republic of falsehood and online ghosts," the reaction concludes.