30 businesses have filed complaints with the Cybercrime Office about the attack on their businesses via online and call centers, but they are afraid to speak out. The only one who is speaking out publicly is Gjergj Luca, the owner of Rozafa.
The statement was made by the host of the Top Story show, Grida Duma, in yesterday’s panel when cyberattacks on business were discussed. In a heated debate between journalist Arion Sulo and businessman Gjergj Luca, the journalist accused Luca of being involved in politics and of having benefited from the government. “They haven’t forgiven me anything for Labinot,” Luca declared. “I paid 1.4 billion lek to the state budget and I bought this land for 190 euros per square meter. Before you speak from the couch, do some verification,” was the businessman’s clear and firm response.
Excerpts from the studio debate
Gjergj Luca: Before those people deal with me, I want to tell you about when I encountered social networks, the problem I had with them, and I want to tell the media what damage they have done. The damage they have done to me, the current situation and what I think needs to be done to return Albanian society to normality.
5-6 years ago when they came to me, I didn’t know the history of the media, I came out and made a public request to Duman to check who I am for Albanian society and whether I have the right to raise problems.
While the trials continue and during this period I receive two letters: one from Sweden and one from Japan. And they tell me “please give us explanations for these articles, because they speak very badly about you as a drug lord, organized crime boss, murderer, gang member, etc.” These people did not understand when I told them what the media in Albania says. And they set up working groups to control me, without me knowing anything. They call me to the Japanese and Swedish embassies and tell me they apologize and are surprised.
They burned me for a season, not Luca, Rozafa, and they shut down exports for a year in a row to prove the claims of the media scum who spew bile at businesses that want to change this country.
Grida Duma: A deregulated media market that has harmed businesses.
Luca: The Karagjose media, which has no address on the door. Not the serious media. These have been continuing the same ritual for 5 years now.
Grida Duma: During this protest, what happened?
Gjergj Luca: I have chosen that path that when they harass me I give an answer. Many tell me that I am wrong, others continue as you owe someone. For all Albanian and diaspora clients, they have not done me any harm, zero. For clients who are directed by social networks, booking, because when I go abroad I also turn to them to see the stars eating in a restaurant, here they have harmed me a lot.
Grida Duma: When did the cyberattack against you begin and how long did it take for your online rating to be devalued?
Gjergj Luca: For 3 hours. They took me to IT and told me: boss, they have torn us apart, and from 4.9 they have given us reviews to 4.2, 3.9, 2.5… Within three hours the decline began. They took him, I have a hotel here that I have with one star, despite the fact that Brenda is with 5 stars, there they took him to the communist star.
Grida Duma: Did you decide to report him to the police?
Gjergj Luca: I have reported it to cybercrime and they have submitted the facts. 95% are orchestrated, that’s what my IT people tell me…
Grida Duma: I have two questions: the ability of Albanian business to structure itself against cybercrime and cyberattacks. This requires money. I don’t know what the police have told you, and I have my doubts whether they have the capacity. What do you think will be done under these conditions?
Gjergj Luca: If our parliament is not going to be called a parliament of thugs, delinquents, irresponsible people for Albania, they should continue to leave this situation. If they are deputies who represent the Albanian people, they should restore the media law so that people are held responsible for what they say. Or they like this situation, because they want to cover up their sins on both sides, and they want to leave this country empty-handed because we are leaving. Because they want to turn it into communism and we are leaving.
Grida Duma: I would have told you personally why you, a successful businessman, are opening political debates in a society that is polarized in judgments… but on the other hand, just as I invited you, I also invited other businesses that are afraid to speak out. They have even told the state police why they made this issue public because they do not want to appear and do not want to enter into hostility or further attacks. Both you who spoke, and those who did not speak are part of a reality. You are defenseless and social or political movements must have filters regarding the market economy.
Gjergj Luca: This has to do with the path of each person, how they choose to build their own path. I’m telling you three moments of my life: I got to know politics when my close friend Fatos Nano imposed the first fine of 1 million dollars on me, the first such fine against an Albanian business. The second time I got to know politics, after I fought for Nano to leave and for those from my party to come, and I told him publicly that I fought to get 11 deputies out, I contributed, for a year they closed all my businesses as a sign of gratitude because I didn’t shut up. And this other one, whom I respect, didn’t bother me and didn’t come to my door cursing and tearing the SP to pieces…
Grida Duma: Do you realize that with this sentence you are causing a debate?
Gjergj Luca: Whoever says no, bring me the one who says “no”…
Arion Sula: Who did you cut to pieces, PS?
Gjergj Luca: I didn’t break it into pieces? PS I broke it into pieces.
Arion Sulo: And you work with the SP and the government, how did you break it up? That’s why you shouldn’t talk politically. That’s where your problem lies.
Gjergj Luca: You say that from that armchair.
Arion Sulo: no, don’t get off the couch, I’ll get up and stand up. It’s okay, we heard you.
Gjergj Luca: Hey sir, from the armchair of the stupid job you do, judging me. Because you should see all my outings, how I have torn these people to pieces.
Arion Sulo: and you should see my chair and my work from the beginning. Look a little bit at the workers because you are worried about the workers, not just about me. There is no one in their right mind who would say that negative reviews for Albanian businesses are not a negative thing. Because the entire economy, you who are the first ones who are owners and administrators and the Albanian economy, if this continues, it is not known where it will go. But in your case, a week ago you dealt with the protesters by calling them “nobody”, that is why I intervened for the SP.
Gjergj Luca: Have you seen what they posted about me?
Arion Sula: You, in your business, in your work, in your right, have entered politics by being a party to this government and the majority that the protesters oppose. You have confronted them. I feel bad that this is how this will end, but you will now expect a political response. Because a businessman cannot do politics, give independent political opinions, when he is a party to the government. You have taken contracts by your right. Stick to business. That’s what I wanted to say.
Gjergj Luca: To tell the truth about your work is not to defend the government. Secondly, you only heard what I said, but you didn’t hear what they said about me. Now regarding the contracts. I make you a public challenge and I’m asking Grida to come to the studio and tell me which contract I signed with the state for 35 years? They put me in the completely destroyed Labinot barracks, they gave me 1 euro…
Arjon Sulo: So she is…
Gjergj Luca: Let me explain in a minute. When I did this miracle out of nowhere, they came and put the meter on me. When I spent 15-20 million euros, I wanted to privatize it, so they gave me 1 euro. I told them: do the paperwork for me because I threw my life here. No, they said, we will come and put the meter on me. How many meters will you come? I said, you gave me 1 euro, do the paperwork for me because I want to take the collateral to the bank. No, they said, we will put the meter on me. And my friend, they put the meter on me, I paid 190 euros per square meter, and I paid 1.4 billion lek to the state. So, don’t lie to me that the government has given me a privilege. Zero. Edi Rama has given me a privilege because he has let me work and has not bothered me, he has left me in my job.