Prosecutors’ Association: Balla’s unsubstantiated claims linking prosecutor Berexha to the DP put pressure on the justice system

The Association of Prosecutors of the Republic of Albania has issued a public response following statements by Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, which targeted a Tirana prosecutor over the way he acted in connection with arrests during protests against the government.

Speaking to the media after a parliamentary session, Balla pointed the finger at prosecutor Arbër Berexha, claiming that he maintains political ties with the Democratic Party and casting doubt on his decision-making in a case involving protesters.

The socialist MP’s statements have raised concern within the Association of Prosecutors. The organization stresses that claims of political ties made without concrete evidence risk undermining prosecutors’ independence and the public’s trust in the justice system.

In its statement, the Association emphasizes that “allusions to a prosecutor’s political ties, connected to a specific decision, risk undermining his independence, respect for which constitutes a constitutional obligation and a requirement of the rule of law.”

Prosecutors, the Association adds, are magistrates who answer only to the Constitution and the legislation in force. Their decisions must be based on the facts and evidence gathered, without being influenced by political pressure or influence.

According to the organization, any prosecutorial act may be subject to public criticism, but assumptions about political ties without any evidence shift the debate from legal reasoning toward the personal and professional discrediting of the magistrate.

“When such a claim is accompanied by public calls for the High Justice Inspector to intervene specifically over this decision, there is a risk that the prosecutor and his subsequent decisions will be placed under pressure,” the statement notes.

Meanwhile, the Association of Prosecutors explains that a prosecutor’s order for the immediate release of detainees, when it is found that the arrest was carried out in violation of the law, does not constitute a decision to close the case.

These orders concern the legality of the deprivation of liberty and do not definitively resolve the issue of criminal responsibility. Under Article 257 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the cases provided for by this provision, the prosecutor is legally obliged to order the immediate release of the detained person.

Any complaint concerning professional or ethical violations may be submitted to the competent bodies, including the High Justice Inspector, and must be assessed on the basis of evidence, in accordance with the legal procedure. Likewise, the bodies that examine these claims must carry out their activities independently, away from political pressure.

Finally, the Association of Prosecutors calls on political representatives to exercise responsibility when making criticism and not to target prosecutors through insinuations.

“Protecting the independence of magistrates serves an impartial process and the uniform application of the law to every citizen,” concludes the statement dated October 22, 2026.