Murder of judge/ Magistrates request urgent meeting: Requires immediate reflection

2025-10-08 11:05:00, Aktualitet CNA

Murder of judge/ Magistrates request urgent meeting: Requires immediate

The country's prosecutors have sent a request to Chief Prosecutor Olsian Çela and the High Judicial Council to convene the General Meeting of the Prosecutors of the Republic.

In the submitted request, prosecutors say that the tragic event of Judge Kalaja's execution has highlighted serious gaps in the justice system.

Regarding the situation, prosecutors request immediate reflection and decisions regarding the safety of the lives of magistrates while performing their duties.

Prosecutors are seeking to discuss security conditions in courtrooms, the transportation of magistrates, and a review of security standards.

Full request

Request for the convening of the General Meeting of Prosecutors of the Republic of Albania to discuss issues of physical security and protection of the image and dignity of magistrates

Dear Sirs,

We, the undersigned prosecutors of the Republic of Albania, relying on Article 113 of Law No. 115/2016, “On the governing bodies of the justice system”, as well as Articles 54–56 of Law No. 97/2016, “On the organization and functioning of the prosecution in the Republic of Albania”, request the convening of the General Meeting of Prosecutors of the Republic of Albania.

This request comes as a result of the tragic event of the loss of life of a magistrate (judge) in the line of duty, which has shocked the entire judiciary and highlighted serious gaps in the security system, both within and outside the institutions of justice. This situation requires immediate institutional reflection and collective decision-making, so that magistrates are no longer exposed to physical or institutional risk in the performance of their constitutional functions.

Although Articles 111–116 of Law No. 115/2016 provide for the general meeting of prosecutors for electoral purposes (election of members of the KLP and the School of Magistrates), the very existence of this body in law constitutes its formal recognition as a collegial body representing the body of prosecutors of the Republic of Albania. No legal provision prohibits this meeting from being convened for other issues of high public, professional or institutional interest. On the contrary, the constitutional principles of independence and self-governance of the justice system (Article 147 of the Constitution and Articles 2, 3 and 4 of Law No. 115/2016) require that the body of magistrates have the opportunity to self-organize collective positions on situations that directly affect the exercise of their duties and the personal safety of their members.

The tragic event of the murder of a magistrate judge in the courtroom, while on duty, constitutes an exceptional case that goes beyond the limits of ordinary matters of the administration of justice. In this circumstance, the Prosecutor General and the High Prosecutorial Council have not only the right, but also the moral and institutional obligation to react by calling a General Meeting, with the aim of coordinating a unified response to the risks affecting the safety of magistrates and the integrity of the justice system.

This interpretation is in line with the spirit of the law and international practice, where self-governing bodies of the justice system meet not only for electoral matters, but also for institutional emergencies that require a joint response.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and review the current state of security in prosecutorial premises and the guarantees for the protection of the life, integrity and functional independence of magistrates, including:

– Physical security in prosecutor's offices (entrance control, security equipment, presence of judicial police and state police);

– The conditions of transportation and movement of prosecutors, as well as the need for compensation or institutional support for transportation and accommodation;

– Review of security standards in relation to European Union practices and the guidelines of the CEPEJ and the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice;

– Taking concrete measures to guarantee minimum conditions of security, confidentiality and dignity in the exercise of duty.

In this context, we consider it necessary that the meeting also address the issue of hate speech against magistrates and prosecutors, manifested from time to time by political representatives, the media and online portals. This phenomenon undermines the institutional authority and functional independence of the body of magistrates, creating a climate of pressure and uncertainty in the exercise of their duties. It is necessary for the prosecution system, through its representative bodies, to maintain a clear institutional stance towards this phenomenon and to undertake initiatives to strengthen the protection of the image, dignity and security of magistrates.

In accordance with the law, this request is supported by no less than one-tenth of the prosecutors of the Republic.

Considering the high sensitivity and urgency that this situation has created in the prosecution system, we request that the meeting be convened within the shortest possible time frame, so that its decisions serve as the basis for concrete proposals to the High Prosecutorial Council, the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Interior, to strengthen the security of magistrates at all levels.