TIRANA, Nov. 19 – U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu levied this week the most direct criticism from an international representative on Albanian officials who are not moving fast enough in the approval and implementation of a major justice reform.
In two strongly-worded speeches on the subject, Lu said the justice system had failed Albanians, including giving concrete examples of what he says are criminals allowed to go free.
“People like Arben Frroku, who killed a police chief, but was mysteriously allowed to leave the country while the appeal was pending before the court. People like convicted drug trafficker Emiliano Shullazi, who is openly accused in the media for continued drug trafficking and murder, but who has not been brought to justice,” Ambassador Lu said, speaking in Albanian. “And people like Sokol Mjacaj, convicted of killing a 13-year-old boy, but who was released precariously from prison and then killed a couple in Theth.”
Lu said these are the types of people who are be afraid of a functioning justice system.
The examples were the first direct accusation using concrete names by an international representative and drew a lot of attention in the Albanian media.
Arben Frroku’s case was particularly tied to the political scene as his brother Mark Frroku was, until recently, a member of parliament for the ruling Socialist-led coalition. Mark Frroku has also been arrested by Albanian authorities on a murder warrant by Belgian authorities. He is waiting extradition.
Emiliano Shullazi is a well-known figure will alleged ties to organized crime who has at one time or another helped get votes for Albanian political parties, according to multiple media accounts. The opposition Democratic Party has repeatedly accused Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri of having ties to Shullazi, a charge Tahiri denies.
European Commission data shows Albania has among the lowest levels of prosecution of serious crimes, which makes justice reform paramount, Lu said.
Ambassador Lu said the judicial reform aims to address the issue of corruption and political influence in order to prevent judges and prosecutors from protecting colleagues that might be corrupt and incompetent.
It also aims avoiding the capture political system by the criminal world and bring Albania’s system in line with international standards, he added.
Last week, Ambassador Lu delivered another strong-worded speech relating to the justice reform. He said the United States supports the proposals for constitutional amendments, and spoke in a strong tone against those who oppose justice reform.
“Corrupt ministers, MPs with criminal pasts, incompetent judges and prosecutors who take your money and never prosecute someone. These people cannot continue to line their pockets with the money of the Albanian people,” Lu said. “Think about it, whenever these people criticize the justice reform.”
He said the United States is engaged in the discussion on constitutional changes, because “this is a radical reform that for the first time will take steps to eliminate judges and prosecutors that are corrupt and incompetent”.
Ambassador Lu urged all political parties in Albania to engage constructively and to end political attacks.
“I understand that some people may be told by their superiors what they have to say, or worse yet what they should not. If this is true it reminds me more of Albania’s communist past than its democratic future. This is your justice system. Be courageous to say what you think and do not repeat blindly whatever you are told to say,” Lu said.
Ambassador Lu had told an audience made up largely of prosecutors and justice system officials he knows there are pressures at all levels, but that officials must do the right thing in a democratic society.
He said Albanians don’t trust the system to be independent of those who pay bribes, politically influence and threaten judges.
“No Albanian today believes that the justice system is independent,” Lu said. “This reform will give Albania a real chance to make an independent justice system for the first time. “
All comments by Ambassador Lu were made in Albanian and have been translated into English.
