TIRANA, Feb. 13 – Albania’s former General Prosecutor Adriatik Llalla sent an official letter to President Ilir Meta this week giving up his right to be appointed as an appeals judge, thus avoiding the vetting process all those part of the justice system are required to undergo under Albania’s justice reform laws.
Albanian law allows former general prosecutors to be appointed as appeals judges. In the current situation, successful appointment would only be possible if officials passed the vetting process.
Llalla, however, did not wait for the possibility of such a reappointment, instead joining other prosecutors in exiting the justice system and informing the vetting bodies that he would not be subject to the judiciary’s vetting.
U.S. Ambassador to Tirana Donald Lu, who has in the past clashed with Llalla concerning corrupt officials and the judiciary reform, indicated in response that resignation from Albania’s judiciary system does not mean impunity if Llalla and other prosecutors are found to have been involved in corruption.
“The decision to resign is an individual decision, yet the resignation of any corrupt or inefficient judge or prosecutor is a victory in the battle for a better judicial system,” Lu said.
Lu spoke in general terms, referring to all judges and prosecutors who resigned before passing through the vetting process.
“The decision to resign does not excuse those former officials from possible penal responsibilities of corruption or duty exploitation. Those who are scared of the vetting should also be scared of unavoidable penal investigations,” Lu concluded.
Indeed, the legal right to withdraw and, in turn, skip the vetting process could become ground for argument in the country, as it is still unclear whether the right is constitutional or whether Llalla and other prosecutors will still be legally investigated.
It is not unusual for former general prosecutors to enter private practice, becoming defense attorneys after finishing their term. Llalla has not made his plans public.
