US Embassy, Albanian Prosecutor Row Over Judicial Reform

As Albania starts an important process of vetting judges and prosecutors and sets up new justice institutions, the US ambassador to Tirana, Donal Lu, and the General Prosecutor, Adriatik Llalla, have exchanged heated accusations about judicial reform.

"We are seeing powerful people trying to keep their control over judges and prosecutors, the General Prosecutor is an example. He has over more than 18 months loudly talked against the judicial reform," Lu said on Thursday publicly accusing Llalla of trying to impede the judicial reform.

According to Lu, Llalla tried to block the server of the high Inspectorate of Assets Declaration, ILDKPKI, which is considered vital for the vetting process of around 800 judges and prosecutors.

He also condemned Llalla's attitude to the formation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a now body that is going to decide judges and prosecutors.

"The Constitutional Court, the High Court, and the High Council of Justice each submitted longer lists of qualified persons for their positions on the Council.  By contrast, the Prosecutor General chose the three prosecutorial positions himself by sending a list with only three names - selected with no transparency - to fill three vacancies," Lu said.

Llalla has already written to President Bujar Nishani and the chairman of parliament, Ilir Meta, complaining about the ambassador's conduct.

The letter, which was also distributed to the media on Thursday, came after Lu publicly accused Llalla of trying to impede the judicial reform.

In the letter, Llalla claims to have been personally and professionally threatened by the ambassador because of his stance over the judicial reforms.

"In official and unofficial communications, Ambassador Lu has made it...