"What has emerged confirms a serious and, in many respects, paradoxical scenario," TAI stated.

"Despite the two preliminary references currently pending before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the second concerning the signing of the protocol itself, the government has not suspended detentions and has, on the contrary, significantly increased forced transfers from Italian CPRs to Albania," it added.

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'Ninety People in Gjader Today, the Highest Number Since Opening'

According to TAI, "in the past two weeks, there have been two transfers of approximately 35 people each. Around 90 people are currently being held in Gjader, the highest number since the center opened in October 2024.

"For ten months, transfers took place in much smaller numbers, averaging around ten people at a time, with an overall presence of about twenty individuals. Today, the figure stands at approximately 90.

"The numbers signal a clear acceleration and indicate the government's intention to normalize the operation of the center, consolidating it as a structural part of the administrative detention system, despite the pending referrals to the EU Court."

TAI further stated that "the exercise of the right to defense is limited by geographical distance. The right to health is compromised, as evidenced by the register of critical incidents and by the number of people suffering from psychological and physical vulnerabilities who, despite this, are transferred to the CPR.

"Testimonies collected indicate that transfers to Albania have involved the generalized use of coercive devices for the entire duration of the journey, without an individual assessment of the necessity and proportionality of the measure."

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'Few Repatriations After Return to Italy'

TAI also reported that "individuals state they did not receive a formal transfer order, an issue made more serious by the fact that judicial authorities have already ruled the absence of a formal transfer order unlawful. The criteria used to select individuals remain unknown.

"Pro-files are extremely heterogeneous in terms of personal history, length of stay in Italy, and nationality, reinforcing concerns over the opacity of the procedures adopted."

According to TAI, "the large-scale arrivals in recent weeks have generated strong confusion and disorientation among detainees. This is also reflected in the increase in entries recorded in the register of critical incidents, a sign of rising tension within the facility."

"So far, most of the individuals transferred to Albania have subsequently been returned to Italy following the submission of an asylum application. Many have also been brought back for a reassessment of their fitness for detention on health grounds," TAI recalled, adding that "the number of repatriations actually carried out has been limited and, in any event, has always occurred after the individuals' return to Italy, except for five Egyptian nationals repatriated directly via Tirana in May 2025.

Documents obtained through access to records show that in all cases where the managing authority convened the commission to assess vulnerabilities, individuals were transferred back to Italy after being recognized as vulnerable and unfit for detention. This indicates that, for many individuals, the transfer to Albania should not have taken place in light of their psychological and physical conditions," the statement concluded.

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