The General Directorate of the State Police has made some changes in the leadership structures of local police and commissariats.

By order of the General Director of the State Police, Skënder Hita, officer Dritan Lena, until now Chief of the Operational Planning Sector in the Directorate of the National Security Force, is transferred and appointed Director of the Berat Local Police Directorate.

Changes have also been made in the leadership of commissariats. Chief Commissioner Saimir Shkambaj, until now Head of the Tropojë Police Commissariat, is transferred and appointed Head of the Sarandë Police Commissariat.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Feliks Hoda, who headed the Sarandë Police Commissariat, is transferred and appointed Head of the Dibër Police Commissariat.

In Tropojë, the position of Head of the Commissariat will be taken by Commissioner Andi Kano, currently Head of Crime Investigation at the Tropojë Police Commissariat, who has been assigned to this function.

Thus, the leadership of the Sarandë Commissariat passes to Saimir Shkambaj, while Feliks Hoda moves to head the Dibër Police Commissariat.

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On Monday, a draft law was submitted to the Assembly of Kosovo by the Democratic Party of Kosovo, aiming to amend the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office.

The PDK’s legal action follows the conviction that the Specialist Chambers handed down against former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, namely Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. The ruling has been met with harsh reactions and has been considered unjust both by political forces and by citizens.

At a press conference, PDK leader Bedri Hamza noted that the establishment of the Special Court was intended to investigate the allegations from Dick Marty’s report, and that it must now stick to that original purpose.

Hamza gave a detailed overview of the proposed amendments and underlined the Assembly’s obligation to act in accordance with the Constitution and to carefully review the norms governing the activity of the Specialist Chambers.

According to Hamza, the Assembly must intervene when it assesses that the laws it has passed no longer serve their original purpose. The new draft law, he stressed, addresses exactly this by requiring a specific correlation between the charges and the reason for creating this court, rather than broad interpretations or ones based simply on the fact that an event took place during the conflict. It proposes that cases that do not fall within this jurisdiction be redirected to Kosovo’s judicial system, together with all relevant documentation and evidence, thus ensuring the continuity of the justice process where the law determines.

Another important point of the proposal is accountability, Hamza said. Since the Specialist Chambers operate outside Kosovo and have an institutional model that gives them independence from Kosovo authorities, the amendment provides for professional international organizations to be authorized to monitor their work. This monitoring is not intended to interfere with judicial decisions, but to assess respect for human rights, due process standards, detention conditions, witness protection and the length of proceedings, with these organizations obliged to report before the Assembly and the public.

The PDK leader explained that this amendment does not imply the dissolution of the Special Court. On the contrary, it is reoriented toward its initial mandate, dealing exclusively with the concrete allegations of Dick Marty’s report, while for other war crimes and acts without a direct connection, jurisdiction passes to the justice system in Kosovo. Hamza stressed that no case remains unaddressed by the justice system and that this mechanism creates no gap in criminal prosecution.

He called on other political forces in the Assembly for support and said he had held talks on the initiative with Prime Minister Albin Kurti of the Vetëvendosje Movement, the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, and the leader of the Alliance, Ardian Gjini. Hamza said he was confident there are sufficient grounds for this law to receive the needed votes from these parties.

Asked about the matter submitted to the Constitutional Court regarding the constitution of the Assembly and the formation of the new executive, Hamza said that amending the law on the Special Court is the absolute priority. He sought guarantees through public commitments that this law will be supported, adding that for the PDK, other issues become secondary compared with this objective.

Furthermore, Hamza reiterated his party’s commitment to exhausting all democratic and legal avenues in opposing what he described as injustice against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, with the aim of ensuring full due process standards in all further stages.

We recall that on 16 September, the Specialist Chambers imposed a prison sentence of 81 years on former KLA leaders Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi.

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The Law Commission approved, article by article, the legal changes to increase magistrates’ salaries, with eight votes in favor from the Socialists and three against from the Democrats.

The draft is expected to be reviewed and voted on Thursday in a plenary session.

The debate over salaries escalated after Parliament failed to approve the new formula by July 31, which was supposed to comply with the Constitutional Court’s decision.

After the deadline expired, the High Judicial Council and the High Prosecutorial Council decided that, starting on August 1, the reference salary would be calculated on the basis of 222,425 lek, with an additional compensation of 14,000 lek for qualifications.

At the request of the Democratic Party and with the majority’s approval, representatives of justice institutions were invited to the meeting. They expressed opposition to the formula proposed by the government.

Mirela Bogdani, chairwoman of the High Prosecutorial Council, opposed the majority’s version. Ilir Panda, deputy chairman of the Supreme Court, took the same position.

Gerd Hoxha, head of the Judges’ Association, took the most critical stance while reporting to lawmakers. According to him, the Constitutional Court’s decision cannot be subject to negotiation.

The opposition also called for the changes to be rejected, accusing the government of failing to properly establish the salary hierarchy within the justice system.

Democratic lawmaker Oerd Bylykbashi described the situation as a constitutional crisis caused by the executive and the government. He said the opposition had warned of this problem 10 years ago, adding that the government was unable to establish a salary hierarchy and that the law should be rejected.

Justice Minister Toni Gogu, who attended the committee meeting, criticized Parliament for failing to approve the new formula on time. However, he said the version presented by the majority resolved the situation.

Gogu acknowledged that Parliament had not respected the July 31 deadline, emphasizing that this required no justification. According to him, Parliament’s delay would not lead to a clash between the branches of government.

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The State Police has made several changes to its leadership structures, with appointments and transfers in several local directorates and departments of the General Directorate of State Police.

As part of these changes, Senior Director Kastriot Skënderaj has been appointed Director of the Elbasan Local Police Directorate.

Meanwhile, Director Fatmir Hoxha, who held the post of Director of the Elbasan Local Police Directorate, has been appointed Specialist in the Integration Directorate at the General Directorate of State Police.

There have also been changes in the leadership structures of the Berat and Korçë police. Director Luigj Vathi has been appointed Director of the Korçë Local Directorate for Border and Migration, having previously served as Director of the Berat Local Police Directorate.

At the same time, Director Gëzim Zhupaj, who headed the Korçë Local Directorate for Border and Migration, has been transferred and appointed Sector Chief in the Department for Public Order and Security at the General Directorate of State Police.

The changes have also affected the Tirana Police structures. Chief Commissioner Dashnor Muhaj, who held the post of Deputy Director for Public Order and Security at the Tirana Local Police Directorate, has been transferred to the General Directorate of State Police. Muhaj has been appointed Specialist for Irregular Migration in the Department for Border and Migration.

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The changes to the State Police law enter into force, affecting the organization of leadership structures, appointments at police leadership levels, the Police Post structure, and the rank system.

One of the main changes concerns the General Director of the State Police. Under the new law, after completing his term, he can return to the leadership structures of the State Police, but cannot be reappointed to the position of General Director.

As Top Channel journalist Anila Hoxha reports, this provision differs from the previous law, which stipulated that the General Director, after the end of his mandate, could not return to leadership structures and could only serve in an advisory role.

Another important change relates to the appointment of commissariat and directorate chiefs. According to the new amendments, appointments will again be made by the General Director of the State Police.

This mechanism restores the method provided in the previous law, whereas the 2024 law, which is now amended, stipulated that appointments would be made following a competition.

The changes also affect the territorial structure of the State Police. The structure known as the “Police Post”, which had been changed under the previous organization, is reinstated.

Meanwhile, the new law also brings changes to the State Police rank system, revising their organization and functioning.

The new changes aim to establish a different way of organizing the structures and leadership functions within the State Police.

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Traffic Police Director Perlat Vatoci has announced the new amendments to the Road Code, which came into force on August 7, 2026. According to him, the new measures are intended to improve road safety, raise driver awareness and reduce the number of accidents.

One of the new provisions postpones the right to obtain a driving license for up to one year for people caught driving without a license. When the offense is committed by minors, this period is extended to up to two years.

Drivers found to have more than 0.5 grams of alcohol per liter of blood who have previously been penalized for driving under the influence of alcohol or while intoxicated will have their driving licenses revoked permanently.

Vatoci said this change is linked to the need to curb serious accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

The amendments approved through Law No. 58/2026, “On Several Additions and Amendments to the Road Code of the Republic of Albania,” also include tougher measures against dangerous behavior on the road.

For drivers who fail to adjust their speed on roads with limited visibility, carry out aggressive maneuvers, frequently change lanes without signaling or commit violations that endanger other road users in urban areas, near schools, intersections or junctions, the administrative fine has been increased to between 20,000 and 60,000 lekë.

According to the Traffic Police, determining the penalty takes into account the location where the violation occurs and clarifies its objective elements.

The increase in the fine was deemed reasonable because of the high risk posed by these actions and the rise in road incidents in urban areas.

Using a mobile phone while driving is now also punishable for cyclists, riders of motor vehicles of up to 50 cc and users of motorized scooters.

A driving license will also be suspended when a driver has been penalized twice within the same year for using a mobile phone. Previously, suspension was imposed after three violations.

Police consider mobile phone use while driving to be one of the main causes of loss of control over a vehicle and, consequently, of road accidents.

Special rules have also been established for new drivers who obtained their driving licenses within the past 24 months. Specific measures regarding driving under the influence of alcohol and special speed restrictions apply to this category.

Another amendment removes the option of converting the suspension of a driving license issued by the Albanian state into payment of an amount equal to twice the maximum administrative fine stipulated for the violation.

Before August 7, drivers cited for Road Code violations that carried both a fine and suspension of their driving license could pay twice the maximum fine to avoid the additional penalty. Under the new amendments, this option has been removed and the driving license is suspended automatically.

The main amendments, which came into force on August 7, 2026, stipulate that people caught without a driving license will have their right to obtain one postponed for up to one year, or up to two years for minors. In every case, Traffic Police units within the State Police will inform the DSH­TRR, as the institution responsible for issuing driving licenses, so that the individuals identified can be entered into the system and the relevant procedures can be followed.

Traffic Police units across the country have been informed of the latest amendments and instructed to implement them correctly.

The State Police have called on drivers not to exceed the permitted speed limit, not to drive vehicles or motorcycles under the influence of alcohol, particularly while intoxicated, not to use mobile phones while driving, and to avoid prohibited overtaking and dangerous or aggressive maneuvers.

The appeal also comes amid the high number of violations detected by smart monitoring vehicles and the strengthening of measures aimed at protecting lives.

According to the police, punishment is not the primary objective. The goal is to prevent violations, avoid accidents and protect lives.

Every driver must behave responsibly at all times while behind the wheel and comply with traffic rules.

Road safety requires everyone’s commitment. The contribution of every road user helps make traffic safer and save lives.

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Alfred Çepe has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Security and Investigation at the Security Academy.

Meanwhile, the following have been appointed to lead police stations:

Feliks Hoda, Chief of the Sarandë Police Station

Agim Troci, Chief of the Gjirokastër Police Station

Pavlin Zhivani, Chief of the Pukë Police Station

Ledian Kerka, Chief of the Kukës Police Station

Vilson Sterkaj, Chief of the Cërrik Police Station

Oltion Gjoni, Chief of the Devoll Police Station

Vendim Imeraj, Chief of the Delvinë Police Station

Medin Hasani, Chief of the Përmet Police Station.

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Members of parliament, representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, experts, and representatives of the international community took part in the discussion.

At the close of the discussion, participants agreed that the upcoming reform must go beyond merely procedural changes and aim to build a modern public procurement system based on performance, integrity, risk management, and the strategic use of public spending.

According to KDI, this reform process should be supported by modernizing the legal framework, strengthening institutional capacities, developing the Procure-to-Pay (P2P) system, managing integrity and risk, orienting the system toward performance, and promoting sustainable procurement.

Opening the roundtable, KDI Program Manager Florent Spahija said that public procurement should not be treated only as an administrative procedure, but as an instrument that directly affects citizens’ lives.

“When public projects fail or do not respond to citizens’ needs, then we have failed to create value from public money. The debate on procurement should focus on the results and impact of public investments,” Spahija said.

KDI researcher Diana Metushi Krasniqi pointed out that although Kosovo has made progress in digitalization and transparency, the upcoming reform must address the system’s structural weaknesses.

“The last comprehensive reform was carried out in 2011, while the changes made in 2015-2016 were mainly technical. Later reform efforts were not finalized, while the exclusion of civil society from the new working group created in January 2026 raises concerns about the inclusiveness of the process,” she said.

According to the analysis presented by KDI, public procurement reform must change the existing approach by shifting the focus from transparency to performance, from tendering to full procurement cycle management, and from the formal observance of procedures to creating value for public money and concrete results for citizens.

During the discussion panel, MP Eliza Hoxha underlined the need to separate purchasing functions from procurement functions, create a State Price Catalogue, and integrate the gender dimension into public procurement processes.

On the other hand, MP Janina Ymeri expressed concern over poor contract management and the lack of accountability in institutions.

“Poor contract management and the lack of accountability remain among the main risks to public finances,” Ymeri said.

Albulena Nrecaj from INPO stressed that Kosovo’s legal framework is largely aligned with European Union directives, but its implementation in practice continues to remain a challenge.

“The Public Procurement Law is largely harmonized with European Union directives, while the main challenge remains implementation in practice and the lack of institutional accountability for violations and omissions,” Nrecaj said.

The activity was organized by the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) with the support of the European Union.

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