TIRANA, March 16 – The General Prosecution Office set up this week a special structure tasked with the verification of the background of public officials in the country in the framework of the decriminalization law.
General Prosecutor Adriatik Llalla signed on Wednesday the creation of the special unit that will be responsible for the implementation of the decriminalization law, which was unanimously voted in parliament earlier this month.
The new structure called the Sector for the Verification of Integrity of Officials will consist of two prosecutors, three judicial police officers and an IT expert.
The Prosecution Office will have at its disposal a register containing the self-declaration forms of all public officials or persons looking to get elected, while it will also be responsible for the verification of all information provided on the forms.
Under the decriminalization law, all public officials will be required to fill a self-declaration form containing eight questions concerning an official’s criminal record including the consent for providing finger prints. False or withheld information means public officials lose their position and the right to be elected or nominated in the future, but it also constitutes a criminal offence subject to fines or imprisonment.
The decriminalization law was adopted by parliament last December, but its implementation was delayed because disagreements over its bylaws, which were finally overcome in the first week of March with Parliament unanimously voting in favor and thus giving the green light to its implementation.
Together with justice reform, the decriminalization law is seen as key to the country’s progress in the fight against corruption and organized crime and the establishment of the rule of law.
