My friend Rrapush Cikoja is currently in an Albanian prison, facing a harsh sentence for simple online threats to an associate. During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time with Rrapush in Elbansan, Albania, and I can say he is a regular guy—not violent, just caught up in a system that swept him up. He was not allowed to mount a real legal defense and was assigned a public lawyer who only tried to get him to bribe the judge. The process has been filled with corruption, and he was given eight years for simple online threats. He has already served four years, and the conditions are brutal. Prisoners' families must support them, or their situation becomes even worse. The prison can add time for minor infractions like having a telephone, and some prisoners simply never get out.

There were errors in his judgment that lawyers are now trying to fix. I have already contributed several thousand Euros to help, but we can be more effective with additional support. The funds raised will go toward legal fees, improving his living conditions, and shining a light on the reality of corruption in Albania. This is an important time to highlight these individual cases of injustice, so that corrupt judges and lawyers will not feel free to demand bribes at every stage. With some exposure, this case could be a model for the change we need in Albania.

I'm asking for anyone who can help to do so. Even a small contribution would make a difference. Your support will not only help Rrapush, but also bring attention to the need for justice and reform in Albania. Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the power of change.