AGSH Chairman Isa Myzyraj said the association had asked the court to suspend the rules and ultimately declare them unconstitutional.

“We are convinced that these regulations undermine media freedom and journalists’ right to inform the public about what takes place inside the Special Anti-Corruption Court,” Myzyraj told reporters.

He said the 127-page petition focused on freedom of expression and the right to information, which he described as fundamental pillars of democracy. It also challenged restrictions on media and public access to the court.

Myzyraj criticized GJKKO for failing to consult journalists before adopting the rules, despite calls for dialogue.

The new regulations, which took effect on Sept. 1, prohibit journalists from attending court hearings with their mobile phones.

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Bar Association Chairman Maksim Haxhia said the regulation also conflicted with Albania’s law governing the legal profession and several provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code concerning the management and conduct of court hearings.

“It conflicts not only with constitutional provisions, but also with the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the Strasbourg court,” Haxhia said, adding that it was also inconsistent with the Council of Europe’s recently adopted convention on the protection of the legal profession, signed by Albania’s justice minister in June.

Haxhia said the Bar Association had formally asked the GJKKO to review the regulation but had received no response as of Tuesday.

“We sent a letter to the GJKKO asking for the regulation to be reviewed, and as of today, Sept. 8, we have received no response, not even an acknowledgement that our request was received,” he said.

He said he had also requested an urgent meeting with the head of Albania’s High Judicial Council (KLGJ) to discuss the matter, but had been told the council would not meet before Sept. 15.

Haxhia particularly criticised a provision banning mobile phones, saying it amounted to discriminatory treatment of lawyers compared with prosecutors.

He argued that the regulation was not intended simply to ensure order and discipline in court, but would instead place lawyers and the defence at a disadvantage.

The GJKKO had not publicly responded to Haxhia’s comments at the time of publication.

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The new rules, which took effect on September 1, require journalists attending hearings to leave their mobile phones and cameras outside the courtroom.

In a response to Top Channel TV, the EU delegation said it was aware of the court’s new internal regulations governing security, order and conduct, which take into account the court’s specific organisational, operational and security requirements.

“The EU stands ready to continue providing specialised expertise to both the judiciary and the media community, supporting efforts to find a fair balance between security measures and access to information and transparency of judicial proceedings, in line with European standards and principles,” the delegation said.

It added that it would continue to closely monitor the issue as part of Albania’s EU accession negotiations.

The new rules have also prompted concern among lawyers. Maksim Haxhia, head of Albania’s National Chamber of Advocacy, said an emergency meeting would be held in Tirana on Tuesday at noon to discuss restrictions that lawyers say are imposed by the new regulations.

The media community has also joined the debate. SafeJournalists has publicly called for the rules to be reviewed, saying some provisions could interfere with the work of journalists and media organisations covering court proceedings.

The regulations have sparked a broader debate over how to balance security requirements at the GJKKO with the right of lawyers, journalists and the public to access information and follow judicial proceedings.

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Aleksandër Çipa, head of the Albanian Journalists’ Union, called on GJKKO President Erion Bani to reconsider the rules and take into account proposals from the media community.

“We are determined to overturn this. This is a regulation, not a law, and regulations can be reconsidered when they contain such serious shortcomings,” Çipa told Report TV.

He said the rules were not only restrictive but also conflicted with Albania’s Constitution and existing legislation, creating what he described as a dangerous precedent for the public’s right to information.

The journalists’ union and other civil society groups are expected to challenge the rules, while Çipa said the campaign could also involve international journalists’ organisations.

The measures under criticism include restrictions on mobile phones and recording devices, a ban on cameras, rotating journalists when courtroom capacity is limited, and a requirement for media representatives to register 24 hours in advance to attend hearings.

Çipa said the restrictions undermined the principle of open hearings by limiting journalists’ ability to report from the courtroom.

“The requirement to register 24 hours in advance is simply an additional obstacle, while rotating seats is another form of censorship,” he said.

He said the rules risked limiting the public’s ability to obtain a complete account of proceedings at the special court.

“The regulation conflicts with the Constitution and our existing legislation,” Çipa said.

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