TIRANA, March 2 – The U.S. ambassador to Albania Donald Lu said this week that the United States has imposed travel bans on Albanian judges suspected of corruption. The measure was made public by the U.S. diplomat during a Q&A session of the embassy with citizens on social media. Lu said that “visas have been refused for corrupt judges and that this is just the beginning.” The U.S. ambassador did not provide the identity of the judges or information regarding their number. “The fight against corruption is a top priority of the U.S. government in Albania. We are taking measures together with the Albanian leaders and the civil society. Last year we saw how political parties withdrew certain candidates from the ballots.
Other corrupt politicians have resigned. We fully support the implementation of the decriminalization law,” Lu said. Reacting to comments by Ambassador Lu on Thursday, Justice Minister Ylli Manjani said he was ready to initiate dismissal procedures against alleged corrupt judged and prosecutors. “I am ready to initiate every disciplinary action against every judge and prosecutor. I will seek information on every judge and prosecutor on U.S. embassy’s list,” said Manjani, thanking ambassador Lu for his commitment to the fight against corruption in Albania. Last December, the U.S ambassador publicly denounced corruption in front of an audience of judges. “If you take a look at your wrist and notice that you are wearing a watch that is more expensive than my car, chances are you are a corrupt judge,” Lu told the audience.
The restrictions taken by the American authorities come at a moment when the Albanian parliament is expected to pass in coming weeks the much-debated reform in the justice system. Under the reform, all judges and prosecutors are expected to undergo vetting not just in terms of their professional criteria, but also regarding their moral integrity.
