The murder of judge Kalaja/Bardhi: The most serious event in 35 years of democracy

2025-10-06 17:08:00, Politikë CNA

The murder of judge Kalaja/Bardhi: The most serious event in 35 years of

The head of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, has reacted to the murder of judge Astrit Kalaja. Bardhi described the incident as shocking and called for the perpetrator to receive the maximum punishment under the law.

He emphasizes that today, self-judgment towards judicial decisions, which according to him began with Prime Minister Edi Ram's attacks on prosecutors and judges, has no place in a democratic society.

Bardhi adds that this is the first time in the history of 35 years of democracy that a judge has been killed in the line of duty. He says that Justice Minister Besfort Lamallari and Interior Minister Albana should urgently resign, as an act of accountability for their failure to guarantee the safety of justice professionals in the workplace.

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The serious criminal incident at the Court of Appeals, where Judge Astrit Kalaja was killed, is shocking. This unprecedented act is one of those that leaves you speechless.

Expressing my most sincere condolences to the family, the community of judges and justice professionals, I appeal that the author of this shocking act receive the maximum punishment provided by law.

Today is the day to loudly emphasize that self-judgment towards judicial decisions, which has begun with the Prime Minister's open attacks on judges/prosecutors for decisions he does not like, has no place in a democratic society. Inciting self-judgment is as reprehensible as the murder of a judge in office.

This is the first case in the history of 35 years where a judge is shot in the line of duty simply for daring to give a decision according to his convictions and the law, therefore today is a day for deep reflection by the entire Albanian society.

This is the most serious incident in 35 years of democracy. Minister of Justice Besfort Lamallari and Minister of Interior Albana Koçiu, who are the heads of the institutions that must guarantee security in the courts, must urgently resign, as an act of accountability for the failure to guarantee the security of justice professionals in their workplace.

A serving judge/prosecutor cannot be harmed for exercising their duties. This would prevent them from exercising their sacred duty of administering justice freely and without fear.

Let's all come together to punish this serious act to the fullest extent so that this unprecedented act does not return to normality./CNA