Islam Abazi Withdraws from Race for a Second Term as Head of the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office

Islam Abazi has announced that he will not seek re-election for a second four-year term as head of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption.

“After eight years, one should know when enough is enough; other colleagues should also be given an opportunity,” Abazi said, thus putting an end to speculation over whether he would seek another term.

The Council of Public Prosecutors has currently opened the call for applications to select the next head of this Prosecutor’s Office.

Abazi took office in November 2022, having previously headed the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Gostivar since 2018. He has announced that he will return to that position after his current term ends.

He was elected through a direct vote by all public prosecutors in the country, a procedure used for the first time following legal amendments made during that period. Abazi received 66 votes, finishing ahead of candidates Ermon Neziri, Villma Ruskova and Fatime Fetai.