They Rejected the New Regulation: GJKKO Starts Fining Lawyers After the Boycott of Court Sessions

GJKKO (Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime) has begun imposing fines on lawyers who are implementing the National Chamber of Advocacy’s decision for an indefinite boycott of court sessions. In the trial of Lulzim Berisha, Emiljano Shullazi and other defendants, over the 2005 murders of Vajdin Lamaj and Klodian Saliu, the defendants’ lawyers stayed in the public section of the courtroom, in observance of the boycott decision.

The boycott is linked to GJKKO’s new regulation, which the National Chamber of Advocacy opposes, calling it unconstitutional and an obstacle to practicing the lawyer’s profession. The trial panel, led by Judge Flora Hajredinaj, fined more than 10 lawyers 50,000 lek each, including lawyers chosen by the defendants and court-appointed ones.

The fines come at a time when the clash between the bar and GJKKO continues over the implementation of the new regulation and the manner of exercising defense in court proceedings.