Albanian Murderer Livestreaming From Prison Set for Deportation under £4 Million transfer Scheme
A convicted murderer who brazenly shared TikTok videos from his British jail cell,even soliciting donations from viewers,is finally slated for deportation to Albania as part of a controversial £4 million-a-year prisoner transfer agreement. Eugert Merizaj, sentenced to 32 years in May 2022 for the shotgun killing of rival drug dealer Hemawand Ali Hussein, has been held at HMP Manchester, where he routinely violated prison rules by livestreaming from his cell.
Merizaj confirmed in an August TikTok clip that he had applied for transfer to Albania under the deal struck in 2023. the agreement aims to repatriate 200 of Albania’s nationals incarcerated in the UK, but has drawn criticism from victims’ families and opposition parties. The transfer has been authorized by the English court. While his return is now authorized, 15 other Albanian murderers remain incarcerated in British prisons, including Koci Selamaj, convicted of the horrific murder of schoolteacher Sabina Nessa.
Merizaj was convicted for his role in the death of Hemawand Ali Hussein, a rival in the drug trade. He was found to have been heavily involved in the planning of the murder, procuring weapons including an axe, though he did not personally pull the trigger. Photos circulating online show Merizaj, while incarcerated, sporting designer clothing and appearing to live a surprisingly comfortable life.
Recent videos posted to TikTok reveal Merizaj complaining about his conditions at HMP Manchester,also known as Strangeways. In a video shot on Thursday night, he lamented being “locked in for four days” with “no one opening our doors.” Despite the illegality of possessing a mobile phone in prison,Merizaj has been livestreaming on the platform since 2023,seemingly without intervention from prison guards.
In earlier TikTok conversations, Merizaj openly discussed his desire to return to Albania, citing his longing to see his family. “I haven’t seen my family in seven years. I talk to them every day,but I haven’t physically met them,” he stated.He also criticized aspects of the British prison system, complaining about the food and the lack of opportunities to speak his native language. “maybe it’ll be worse in Albania,” he conceded, “But the main reason I want to go back is to see my family. That’s what matters most.”
merizaj’s online activity extends beyond complaints, though.He has filmed himself winning cash in online games and soliciting donations from viewers, suggesting a degree of financial support from outside the prison walls. He has also posted videos showcasing a TV, speaker, and games console in his cell, alongside books in Albanian. One notably jarring video depicts him beating a fellow Albanian at a game, then engaging in a bizarre display of self-humiliation involving Nutella and a shaved head.
The process for prisoner transfers involves a multi-stage review.Frist, the Albanian prisoner applies for a transfer through the British prison system. The request is then sent to the UK Ministry of Justice, which forwards the prisoner’s file to their counterparts in Albania. The Albanian Ministry of Justice then submits the case to an Albanian court for recognition of the original UK sentence. If approved,the Albanian Minister of Justice authorizes the transfer and notifies British officials.
The cost of keeping an inmate in a British jail exceeds £53,000 per year, and violent offenders like Merizaj and Selamaj – who received an additional four-and-a-half-year sentence in 2024 for stabbing a prison guard – also present a important security risk. Despite the impending transfer, Merizaj remains at HMP Manchester.
Merizaj is expected to be transferred to Peqin prison, a high-security facility located in western Albania. The remaining 15 Albanian murderers awaiting transfer include Ali Qazimaj, who murdered a retired couple in Suffolk in 2016, and Erland Spahiu, who was part of a group convicted of the brutal murder of Christopher Hughes in 2022.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that Prisoner Transfer Agreements are “just one way in which we get foreign criminals out of our jails,” adding that the government has deported over 5,400 foreign offenders since taking office – a 12 percent increase over the previous year.Thay also confirmed the deployment of staff to 80 jails to expedite the removal of prisoners with no right to remain in the country.
