The President of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Joana Qeleshi, commented this evening on the serious event of the murder of Judge Astrit Kalaja inside the courtroom.
Invited to the show "Kjo Javë" on News24, Qeleshi said that this is an extreme action, which reflects the accumulated dissatisfaction with the justice system, but emphasized that violence can never be a solution.
"I don't think the event was premeditated. There is public dissatisfaction with the justice system and such a burden eventually explodes in some form. People need to find other ways to express their dissatisfaction, while institutions need to speak out about the issues. Beyond this tragedy and the loss of life of my colleague Astrit Kalaja, this event served no one," said Qeleshi.
She said that after the murder of the judge, several security measures have been taken in the courts, but according to her, the institutional reaction remains partial and not sustainable.
"After the event, it was verified in several courts whether the metal detectors were functional or needed to be replaced, but I do not think this is the right approach. An inter-institutional strategy is needed with immediate, medium-term and long-term measures, from improving infrastructure, to increasing security and investing in working conditions, " she added.
The President of the Criminal Lawyers Association stressed that the judicial system is facing unprecedented overload, describing the situation as "collapsing".
"The time has come for the state to undertake a full review to assess how the situation will be resolved. Judges are doing their best, but they have limited capacities. No magistrate today works under normal conditions. A first instance judge has over 1,500 files, while the Appeals Court has a stock of 50,000 files ," Qeleshi stressed.
According to her, the solution must come through profound change, investments in infrastructure and improving working conditions for magistrates, so that the system functions efficiently and restores citizens' trust.