TIRANA, April 29/ATA/ Minister of the Interior Taulant Balla condemned today the act against Judge of Shkodra Tonin Stërkaj, considering it “an attempt to intimidate the judge in his work”.
Speaking to reporters after meeting of the High Judicial Council, the minister said that he had expressed his solidarity to the magistrate and offered immediate protection to him.
Likewise, Balla emphasized that personal protection should be provided for the magistrate’s family as well.
Regarding the investigation, Balla said that, “I hope that in the coming hours and days we will have concrete results in clarifying the incident because we really need to send a message to everyone who tries to intimidate the judicial system in this country in various ways.”
“I call on everyone to give up any form of intimidation against the judicial system! I also agree with the statement of the High Judicial Council that we need to give more support for magistrates, who must perform their duties without any influence. And I believe that we should do more to guarantee more security and more support to judges and prosecutors”, he said.
The minister emphasized that, “The Reform in Justice is yielding its results and judges and prosecutors in their duties have disturbed the peace of persons who are the subject of investigations or decisions”.
“I express the full support of the Albanian government to the institutions of justice so that they do their job. I have also asked the General Director of the State Police to take all measures to guarantee the safety of every magistrate”, he said.
Also, Balla said that all decisions of the government to improve the protection offered to magistrates, especially those of SPAK and the Court against Organized Crime and Corruption, are already being implemented.
On Sunday morning, there was an explosion near the house of judge Tonin Sterkaj in Shkodra causing only material damages./m.m/ r.e/p.s./
