The U.S. Embassy Spokesman Bix Aliu issued a statement Monday saying that “we are very troubled by the recent actions of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior to interfere with the independence of the Prosecutor’s Office during an on-going investigation. All cases should be fully, completely and independently investigated without any outside interference or threats to prosecutors. Respect of all independent institutions is essential for a healthy democracy.”
That was directly connected with the recent clash between the prosecutor’s office and the government on an investigation against Fazlic.
Interior and Justice Ministries accused the prosecutors of violating the constitution when asking by phone to stop Fazlic from leaving the country with his private plane last week. That accusation was added from the premier’s on Monday mentioning the same words.
EU condemns pressure on prosecutor
Following the United States a day earlier on Tuesday European Union Ambassadors in Tirana condemned an attack launched by Prime Minister Sali Berisha against Prosecutor General Ina Rama.
“The Ambassadors of the European Union are troubled by recent developments concerning the judicial system in Albania,” they said in a joint statement.
“We strongly call upon all, particularly the government, to respect the Constitutional provisions and principles of good governance, including accountability to the law.”
it seemed that the two statements from Washington and Brussels were identical in their purpose: leave prosecutors free to continue their work.
Berisha said on Monday he would open a parliamentary investigation into the relations between the prosecutor’s office and the police, and the government on a probe launched against Bosnian businessman Damir Fazlic, a close friend of the premier.
the prosecutor’s office has also sequestered all Fazlic’s properties and frozen his bank accounts, including those of his close collaborators, some Albanian businessmen.
The ambassadors warned that the row may lead to undue interference and possible institutional conflict in the country.
