TIRANA, June 13 – Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha reacted on Monday to the new court map according to which 18 courts are closed throughout Albania. During his speech at a press conference he said that the decision of the High Judicial Council (HJC) directly violates the interests of the public and interest groups related to the justice system.
“The decision of the HJC not only violates the direct interests of the public but also of interest groups related to the justice system and the public. The map of the judiciary contradicts the European Parliament resolution, as it says that the map of the judiciary should improve the quality of the courts,” he said.
According to Berisha, the map with the closure of 18 courts severely damages vulnerable groups. “It severely punishes minorities, and all those Albanian citizens who live on economic assistance. So the DP condemns this project and demands its immediate annulment, as this project punishes dozens of good citizens and hundreds of experts and concentrates the decision-making of the main justice system in the hands of two or three people,” he said.
“The map severely damages vulnerable groups. It deprives Albanian citizens of a regular judicial process,” Berisha said.
In the meantime the Albanian Bar Association has denounced the latest move and has announced that defense lawyers will not take part in judiciary deliberations for a 4 – day period. /Argumentum.al