Murder of Judge Kalaja/ Minister Lamallari: This criminal act will not intimidate justice

2025-10-06 18:25:00, Politikë CNA

Murder of Judge Kalaja/ Minister Lamallari: This criminal act will not

Minister of Justice, Besfort Lamallari, reacted a few minutes ago to the murder of Court of Appeal judge, Astrit Kalasa, in the courtroom.

Lamallari expressed in his reaction that this event is an attack on every Albanian justice institution. He emphasizes that the murder of the judge is a criminal act that should receive the harshest punishment by the law.

The minister says that the internal security system in the courts should be reviewed and the punishment for illegal possession of weapons in the new Criminal Code should also be toughened. He also adds that this criminal act will not intimidate justice or the mission of magistrates.

Full post:

The deadly gun attack on Court of Appeals judge Astrit Kalaja is an attack on every servant of the law, institutions and Albanian society.

This serious criminal act must be punished with the full force of the law, and the safety of life and physical integrity of people of justice is a red line that no one should cross and that the state will defend with determination and at all costs.

The assassination of Judge Kalaja in the line of duty is a criminal act that deserves the harshest punishment with the full force of the law. We will not allow attacks like this or any other form to undermine public confidence in justice or to overshadow our ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Albania.

In parallel with the need to review the internal security system in the courts, we inevitably need to toughen the punishment for illegal possession of weapons in the new Criminal Code, for which we have already launched a public consultation. Illegal possession of weapons as a criminal offense will no longer be treated as it has been treated to date.

The safety of justice workers is a red line that no one should cross. No criminal act like today's will ever be able to intimidate justice or the mission of magistrates. The Ministry of Justice stands by the justice institutions.

In these difficult moments, I express my most sincere condolences to the family of the late Judge Astrit Kalaja, to his relatives, colleagues, and to the entire judicial body.

I wish a speedy recovery to the two other people injured in this criminal act.

Rest in peace, honorable judge Kalaja!/CNA