TIRANA, Feb 2 /ATA/ – Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee reviewed and approved the draft law on the Agency for Oversight of Penal Decision Execution on Monday.
Deputy Interior Minister Elona Hoxha said the initiative is crucial for strengthening the penitentiary system and public trust in the rule of law.
The bill aims to consolidate oversight across the penal decision execution chain, including prisons, the Prison Police, and the Probation Service, with a focus on preventing illegal activity, increasing transparency, and protecting fundamental rights.
“The agency will carry out inspection, tracking, and investigative activities,” Hoxha said, adding that it would support, not replace, prosecutors.
Responding to opposition concerns about the agency encroaching on prosecutorial powers, Hoxha clarified: “Investigations remain the prosecutor’s responsibility. The agency will assist prosecutors, not take over their role.”
Democratic Party MP Saimir Korreshi raised concerns about corruption in prisons, to which Hoxha responded that the initiative would standardize complaint handling and reduce opportunities for abuse.
Opposition MP Oerd Bylykbashi warned that the agency’s powers could be misused, particularly in surveillance and data gathering, potentially violating human rights. In response, Ministry of Justice representative Abi Gjilani assured that the agency would only oversee those whose liberty had been restricted and would follow strict legal standards.
Committee Chairman Ulsi Manja emphasized that intelligence and surveillance activities are already tightly regulated and must be approved by a court order.
Opposition lawmaker Arjan Ndoja suggested that the agency’s head should be appointed by the prime minister rather than the justice minister.
The draft law was approved in principle, with further discussion planned for the next committee meeting.
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