The court was responding to a request by the Bar Association to review the regulation, which took effect on September 1, 2026.

GJKKO said the regulation was adopted in accordance with the required procedure and was therefore binding on all participants in judicial proceedings. It said any challenge to the rules did not suspend their legal effect and could not be used as grounds for boycotting hearings.

“GJKKO calls on the Albanian Bar Association to fully implement the regulation, including Article 76. If the Bar Association continues to contest the regulation, it has the relevant legal avenues to challenge it before the competent authorities,” the court said.

The court said lawyers could use laptops throughout hearings to access electronic case files, evidence, case law, submissions and notes.

“The defence lawyer enters the courtroom with their laptop and uses it throughout the hearing in silent mode,” GJKKO said, adding that urgent communication remained possible.

/m.q/j.p/r.e/u.sh/

In a statement on Friday, the network called for broad consultations with journalists and media organisations, saying restrictions on electronic devices could make it harder to report quickly and accurately, particularly on cases of high public interest.

Under the new rules, journalists are generally required to leave mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices outside the courtroom, SafeJournalists said.

The network said the restrictions warranted further discussion, particularly regarding their necessity, proportionality and the practical conditions journalists need to do their jobs effectively.

“SafeJournalists encourages the GJKKO to begin a structured dialogue with journalists and their representative organisations during this initial period of implementation and agree on an early review of the rules concerning the media after the first month,” it said.

The review should take into account the practical experience of both journalists and court staff, including accreditation procedures, the use of standard work devices and communication with the media, the network said.

The aim should be to introduce proportionate adjustments where necessary, it added.

/m.q/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

Balluku had argued that the measure should be lifted because it had effectively lost its purpose after she was relieved of those posts at the end of February.

Judge Erion Çela ruled to dismiss the request filed by Balluku.

Under Albanian law, she has five days to appeal the decision at the Special Appeal Court.

The ruling comes a day after the Parliament of Albania voted with 82 votes against authorizing the request by SPAK – the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Structure – to lift Balluku’s parliamentary immunity.

/gj.m/u.sh/

The ruling by the appeals chamber of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime upheld a Nov. 22, 2025 decision by the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime to impose the precautionary measure.

The decision was issued by a single-judge panel following Balluku’s appeal against the earlier ruling.

In addition to the suspension from office, the court has also imposed a travel ban on Balluku.

Balluku has been charged by the Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Prosecution Structure (SPAK) over procedures related to the construction of the Llogara Tunnel and is also under investigation over seven segments of the Tirana Outer Ring Road project. Prosecutors accuse the former minister of the criminal offence of violating equality in public tenders.

/m.q/a.f/u.sh/

Meta, who leads the opposition Freedom Party, had asked the court to replace the pretrial detention with a lighter security measure, arguing he posed no risk of tampering with evidence, intimidating witnesses or fleeing the country.

Meta’s lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, said the decision had no legal basis and accused the court of acting in line with the prosecution.

“We will continue our legal battle and seek a change of measure, as is our procedural right,” Cakrani told reporters. He said Meta had attended all hearings and that delays in the case were the responsibility of the court.

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) has completed its investigation and sent the case to the Special Court of First Instance.

SPAK has charged Meta with passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or elected local officials in three cases, two of them in cooperation; money laundering committed in cooperation; and failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets and private interests.

/m.q/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

The judge ruled that “continued detention remains necessary and proportionate, particularly in Thaçi’s case, as the risk of obstruction of proceedings has not been eliminated, even as the prosecution’s case nears conclusion in the war crimes trial.”

Masselot noted that “suspicion still stands regarding Thaçi’s alleged involvement in the criminal offenses for which he has been charged.”

“Thaçi’s actions demonstrate persistent attempts to interfere with the KSC proceedings, even from within the Detention Centre, including by leveraging his influence over former KLA members loyal to him and individuals from his political circles, such as his co-accused,” the ruling states.

Thaçi’s defense lawyers, Sophie Menegon and Luka Mishetiq, did not submit a response to the prosecution’s request for extended detention.

It is worth noting that a second indictment was filed against Thaçi by the Special Court in December 2024, on charges of obstruction of justice.

/Kosovapress/u.sh/

In a statement on the social platform X, the government head said he felt relieved after learning about the ruling, as it would allow UBT’s strategic partnership with Austria’s BOKU University to proceed without further reputational damage.

“Here’s why I am relieved by the news of the Special Court’s overturning of 20 security measures (out of 24) at the Agricultural University: Justice for the alleged violations of three years ago is neither hindered nor helped by those security measures that turned the personal and family lives of potentially innocent individuals into a nightmare of injustice,” Rama wrote on X.

The case has sparked controversy over pre-trial detention practices, with critics arguing that excessive measures harm reputations and institutions. The government head has consistently called for a balance between anti-corruption efforts and safeguarding democratic legal standards.

Rama reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fighting corruption, while calling on prosecutors and judges to uphold European legal standards.

“We want an uncompromising fight against corruption and merciless punishment for those who steal from the people. But we cannot compromise on the European democratic norms of justice,” he stated.

/a.g/u.sh/

In a press statement on Saturday, Tirana police have dismissed claims and accusations of negligence during a protest outside the Special Court building, where protesters rallied behind Mayor Veliaj.

Police said that the building is protected by the Republican Guard and insisted that they received no warnings of requests for intervention.

Police said neither Republic Guard nor judicial officials indicated or issued warnings of security threats that the gathering was endangering judges and disrupting proceedings.

“No formal or informal alerts indicated any threat to public order or judicial safety. No written notices, verbal alerts, or emergency calls were received,” Tirana police said.

“Despite this, police pre-emptively deployed 77 officers near the courthouse, ensuring order without escalating the situation,” police stated.

Police also announced that an internal review had been launched to assess whether officers acted appropriately. The Directorate of Professional Standards will evaluate their response and procedures.

/r.e/u.sh/

The U.S. diplomat VanHorn shared unwavering support for Judge Dollani and her colleagues, saying they display immense courage and personal sacrifice in their fight against corruption and organized crime.

“Their decisions are vital in ending the culture of impunity in Albania,” VanHorn is quoted as saying by the U.S. Embassy in a post on the social media.

The U.S. Embassy affirmed commitment to supporting Albania’s justice institutions in their mission to uphold justice and integrity.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

In the meantime, Court upheld a previous ruling that obliges ex-Prime Minister to report his presence in the judicial police.

Malltezi was arrested on October 21 in connection of a land deal and the privatization of the area in Tirana called “Kompleksi Partizani”, former sports ground and other multisport facilities belonging to Partizani football club.

Former PM, Sali Berisha, who is also under investigation in relation to the same case, has denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded political accusations.

Jamarber Malltezi has now been placed under house arrest, whereas the former PM must report to prosecutors and has been ordered not to leave the country

/m.m/u.sh/