With three new institutions finally established to vet Albania’s future judges and prosecutors, judicial reform looked promising. However, observers worry a lack of transparency will erode public trust in the process.
Standing outside the gates guarding the Independent Qualification Commission, where the League of Writers used to be, an officer from the Albanian special forces, the Republican Guard, cut our questions short. We were not allowed in.
“This is a secret institution of special importance. We cannot allow media access without approval,” he told BIRN.
After our insistence on some kind of communication with the body set up to vet prospective judges and prosecutors, another employee, presenting himself as the Chief of Internal Security, said officials from the commission had a message for journalists.
“The official [responsible for] coordinating Public Relations has not yet been appointed. For this reason, we are unable to provide any information regarding transparency,” he said.
