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Execution of Astri Kalasa/Judges' Union: Alarm signal for lack of security in courts

2025-10-06 18:52:00, Aktualitet CNA

Execution of Astri Kalasa/Judges' Union: Alarm signal for lack of security

The Union of Judges of Albania has reacted to the execution of Judge Astrit Kalaja in the courtroom of the Court of Appeals. The reaction states that this tragic event constitutes the most brutal and direct attack on justice.

It is further stated that the murder that occurred today is an alarm signal for the lack of proper security measures in the courts and for the danger that judges face in the exercise of their duties.

The Union of Judges states that this event is taking place in a climate hostile to the judicial system, which, according to them, has been fueled for years by political and media discourse and presents the judiciary as the source of every problem in society.

The statement states that this approach has damaged public trust in justice, inspired disrespect, insults and attacks on judges, significantly increasing the risk and pressure on the independence of the judiciary. It also calls on all institutional, political and media actors to stop inciting hate speech against the judiciary.

REACTION OF THE UNION OF JUDGES:

The Union of Judges of Albania expresses its deep shock and great pain for the tragic event that occurred today, where a colleague of ours, a judge at the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Tirana, lost his life in the line of duty, after a gun attack in the courtroom by a party to a civil case, which injured both a father and son from the other litigant.

This barbaric act constitutes the most brutal and direct attack on justice, on the lives and integrity of judges, as well as on the very constitutional order of the rule of law.

The Union of Judges of Albania expresses its most sincere condolences to the families, relatives and all judicial colleagues, standing by them in this difficult moment of loss and deep shock for the entire judicial body.

Today's event is a clear alarm signal about the lack of appropriate security measures in the courts and the real danger that judges face in the exercise of their duties.

The Union of Judges of Albania demands the immediate adoption of concrete institutional measures to guarantee the safety of judges and their families at all levels of the judicial system.

This serious event occurs in a permanently hostile climate towards the judicial system, which for years has been fueled and amplified by political and media discourse, which often presents the judiciary as the source of every problem in society.

This approach has damaged public trust in justice, inspired disrespect, insults, and attacks on judges, significantly increasing the risk and pressure on the independence of the judiciary.

The Union of Judges of Albania calls for public accountability from all institutional, political and media actors, to stop inciting hate speech against the judiciary. Without respect and real protection of judges, there can be no independent justice, the rule of law and citizens' trust in justice.

In honor of our late colleague, the Union of Judges of Albania will continue to strongly demand the respect, protection and dignity of every judge who serves justice and society with integrity.

Also, the Union of Judges of Albania assures the entire public that hostile discourse and physical attacks will not be able to intimidate judges in the Republic of Albania, who will continue to work with dedication to serve the public, offering justice, for which the judge, father, family man and good man, our unforgettable colleague Astrit Kalaja, gave his life in the line of duty./CNA