The case of journalist Elton Qyno returns with another development. The Constitutional Court has also accepted the request filed by the journalist to reimburse legal expenses in the amount of 200,000 lekë.
The decision comes after Qyno's lawsuit for the protection of journalistic sources and constitutional rights, following the seizure of his equipment in December 2023. Thus, the legal costs in this case are borne by the state and not the journalist.
Although the Constitutional Court declared SPAK's actions illegal and ordered the destruction of the seized data, the prosecution has not fully implemented the decision, refusing to delete the electronic copies of the journalist's two phones. According to SPAK, they are not classified as computer equipment, unlike the phone of Qyno's son, whose data was destroyed.
The case has raised debate on standards for implementing court decisions and protecting media freedom.
The organization "Res Publica", which has been following the case, has described the Constitutional Court's decision as an important step in strengthening access to justice for citizens and journalists.