Lawyer's arrest/ Bar Association decides to boycott court hearings for 5 days

2025-10-19 16:34:00, Aktualitet CNA

Lawyer's arrest/ Bar Association decides to boycott court hearings for 5

The Steering Committee of the Albanian Bar Association has issued a decision following the arrest of lawyer UB

The decision states that all court hearings, both in investigation and trial, at all levels, including the Constitutional Court, will be boycotted for 5 days. It also states that lawyers who do not comply with the decision constitute a serious disciplinary violation.

The Steering Committee has requested that this issue be reviewed by the High Inspector of Justice, the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council. In the meantime, it is announced that the roundtable planned with the Ministry of Justice on October 20 has been postponed to another date.

Full decision:

Steering Committee of the Albanian Bar Association

The Steering Committee of the Albanian Bar Association reviewed the extremely serious driving related to the arrest of colleague Av. Ulian Barjami, after personally contacting colleague Barjami and being directly and in detail acquainted with this event. By circular decision, the Committee unanimously decided:

1. Blocking, through boycott, all criminal proceedings, both in investigation and trial, at all levels, including proceedings in the Constitutional Court, for the dates October 20 to October 25. Participation in criminal cases with the purpose of assigning, amending, replacing and terminating security measures is excluded from the effects of this decision.

2. The non-participation of lawyers in criminal proceedings, both in the investigation and trial on the above dates, is an objective reason for the postponement of court proceedings.

3. Failure to implement this decision by lawyers constitutes a serious disciplinary violation, and consequently serves as a basis for initiating disciplinary proceedings by the Disciplinary Committee, accompanied by the imposition of the most severe disciplinary measures, suspension up to and including revocation of the license to practice the profession.

4. The Steering Committee requests urgent and responsible engagement in reviewing this issue by the High Inspector of Justice, the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council.

5. The Local Bar Associations are responsible for implementing this decision.

6. Depositing a copy of the decision with every court at all levels.

7. Depositing a copy of the decision with the High Inspector of Justice, the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council.

8. Postponement for another date of the roundtable previously scheduled with the Ministry of Justice on October 20, with the subject of "Discussion of the Draft Criminal Code between the working group and the Chamber of Advocates of Albania, organized by the Ministry of Justice. /CNA