On October 6, Albanian Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot within the Tirana courtroom where he presided over a property dispute case, according to the. Kalaja succumbed to his injuries, and two other individuals were wounded in the shooting. The 30-year-old suspect has been apprehended.

Kalaja’s killing swiftly became a focal point for widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanian judiciary across the nation.

Agim Nesho, a former Albanian Ambassador to the United States and the , informed Digital that reforms implemented nearly a decade ago by the European Union and the U.S. were “intended to strengthen the rule of law,” but have been “transformed into a political instrument, undermining democratic institutions and concentrating power in the hands of the executive.”

“As a result,” Nesho stated, “the public’s confidence in the justice system has severely eroded, with institutional dysfunction reaching a level where some segments of society feel driven to take justice into their own hands — a dangerous sign of democratic backsliding.”

Opposition told Digital that Kalaja’s killing represented “an abominable act and an alarm bell that should not be ignored.”

Berisha noted that the “evident support that the act has garnered,” including the establishment of a now inactive GoFundMe to support the killer’s legal rights, demonstrates “protest against a dysfunctional judiciary, against a corrupt and politicized judicial system.”

Berisha asserted that judicial reforms “left the country without a Constitutional Court and without a High Court for more than five years,” leading to a “staggering backlog” of approximately 200,000 cases. He claimed that the process of vetting judicial personnel evolved into “a witch-hunt against magistrates that were perceived [to be] independent or potentially right-leaning.” According to Berisha, this resulted in the “weaponization of the judiciary against the opposition.”

A 2020 report on U.S. assistance to Albania aimed “to restore the integrity of the Albanian justice system.” The report stated that USAID assisted the High Court in creating a procedure to manage 72% of its 35,000 backlogged cases. It noted that 125 of 286 judges and prosecutors who underwent vetting procedures had “been dismissed for unexplained wealth, ties to organized crime, or incompetence,” while 50 judges opted to resign rather than proceed with vetting.

Berisha claimed that in the aftermath of reforms, it now takes about 15–20 years for the resolution of legal disputes. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” Berisha said.

Lawyer Besnik Muçi, formerly a prosecutor and a judge in the Constitutional Court of Albania, told Digital that judicial reforms sought “to establish a credible, fair, independent, professional, service-oriented justice system that is open, accountable and efficient.” He contended that the Albanian justice system “has failed in almost all” parameters.

Muçi stated that the courts’ backlog consists of approximately 150,000 cases. He also observed that the closure of five appeal courts and some district courts has “almost blocked the citizens’ access to justice.” He further explained that most court buildings “do not meet…the security conditions and standards necessary.”

” in the justice system,” Muçi said.

Following Kalaja’s murder, the Korça Bar Association and National Bar Association of Albania boycotted court proceedings on October 9 and 10. Nevzat Tarelli, Director of the Korça Bar Association, stated that Kalaja’s killing underscored the necessity for increased security for and trust in judicial personnel. He also said that “people who expect justice in a timely manner, if they do not receive it, no longer have faith in justice.”

Engjëll Agaçi, general secretary of Albania’s Council of Ministers, did not respond to Digital’s inquiries regarding nationwide discontent with the judiciary or the extent of Albania’s court case backlog.

A spokesperson for the State Department declined to respond to questions concerning the success of U.S.-backed judicial reform efforts in Albania or to address the issues that Kalaja’s killing has highlighted.

“We offer our deepest sympathies to the victims of this attack and their families and strongly condemn the use of violence against judges and prosecutors,” the spokesperson stated.