Strasbourg rules in favor of three former magistrates removed by vetting

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg today announced three rulings in cases concerning former prosecutor Gentian Osmani, former judge Izet Kadana, and former prosecutor Ferdinand Elezi, ruling in their favor over their dismissal through the vetting process.

For lawyer Eduard Halimi, this day marks a historic moment for justice in Albania.

In a statement published on social media, Halimi announced that the Third Section of the ECHR had made public its decisions on Osmani, Kadana, and Elezi.

According to him, the Strasbourg Court found a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, concluding that the removal from office of the three magistrates had not been proportionate to the objective of the transitional re-evaluation process.

“Strasbourg finds a flagrant violation of Article 8 of the Convention in the vetting dismissals, as they were not proportionate. The Court calls for a review of the procedures and a return to the system,” Halimi said.

He congratulated the three magistrates on the rulings, stressing that their careers had been unfairly interrupted and that Albanian institutions must now take into account the findings of the European court.

Halimi also said that a response from institutions in Albania is now expected, while also highlighting the responsibility of the Constitutional Court for implementing the standards set by Strasbourg.