TIRANA, Aug 19 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama today reacted in connection with Judge Hazbi Balliu’s ruling, which handed a confiscated building over to the non-compliant developer.
Following the release of the detailed ruling, Rama called it “scandalous,” asserting that the judge is defending the party responsible for a building constructed completely without a permit.
“Finally, Judge Balliu released the written reasoning for his scandalous ruling, which sides with the party representing a building built entirely without a permit and confiscated in Tirana, where the State Cadastre Agency has been housed after operating for years in an old structure severely damaged by the earthquake,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also shared photos of the old SCA building, which, according to him, “for Balliu is considered a normal workplace as long as there are no victims.”
“How prosecutors or judges of the republic could side with non-compliant developers is beyond comprehension, explained only by the minds of Prosecutor Gjeli and Judge Balliu. Moreover, for a judge to assert that SCA lacks evidence to prevent it from operating in a building with collapsing ceilings and walls requires extraordinary patience, as one hopes that, with the help of the Almighty, the judicial oversight and governance bodies will awaken from their slumber—a slumber that poses serious risks even to the future of the Justice Reform,” Rama added.
“In the photo, you can see Judge Balliu’s (lack of) reasoning, as well as the condition of the old SCA building, which apparently, for Balliu, is considered a normal workplace as long as there are no victims,” he added.
In the reasoning of the decision, the Court noted that “SCA has operated in the same building for four consecutive years after 2021, and there is no evidence that this service cannot continue under the existing conditions.”
The court ruled that SCA’s operations would not be seriously disrupted if the June 18, 2025 decision were suspended, noting that the institution is established and a temporary move from the confiscated building would not critically impact its public service functions.
/sm/
