Justice must be shielded from politics, if it stays out of political battles

There are two distinct standards in how Albanian politics interacts with SPAK (the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime). Sali Berisha openly attacks special prosecutors, even exposing pictures of their intimate partners in press conferences. Meanwhile, Edi Rama presents SPAK and the justice reform as his government’s achievement, encouraging them to uphold their integrity and independence.

The harsh reality is that SPAK has operated under intense political pressure, proving to be more sensitive to external influence than to legal principles. It remains silent in the face of threats and blackmail but reacts when criticized by Edi Rama. SPAK, along with the broader justice system, seems hesitant to confront attacks from Berisha, Meta, and other politicians but is quick to respond to Rama’s critiques.

I could count at least 100 press conferences of Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta where they have personally insulted the head of SPAK, as well as the prosecutors and judges, yet justice institutions have never issued a response. In contrast, when Edi Rama recently criticized SPAK and the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime—citing clear evidence that these institutions are being exploited by Berisha’s allies for political gain—they reacted immediately, asserting that their independence must be protected. The problem, however, is that their independence is not only challenged by the government but also by the opposition when it seeks to use them for electoral interests.

The arrest of Tirana’s Mayor, Erion Veliaj—who also serves as the Socialist Party's political leader for a significant portion of the country—at the start of an election campaign, without a compelling reason, is a blatant case of the justice system interfering in politics. Just as it is legitimate to protest political interference in justice, it is equally valid to protest when justice intervenes in politics.

If the standard for prosecuting electoral crimes were applied fairly, SPAK’s actions—motivated by personal and political grudges—would themselves qualify as an electoral crime. This is a clear instance of justice being weaponized for political purposes.

Justice institutions have every right to push back against political interference, but they must apply the same standard across the board. It is easy to stand up to those who respect you; the challenge is maintaining integrity against those who pressure and manipulate you.

I have long supported Albania’s justice reform, advocating for it since its inception in 2015. At times, I have even risked appearing naive in my defense of the new system, believing in its potential for fairness. My frustration stems from personal experience with the old justice system, where corrupt judges ruled against me to appease Sali Berisha while letting drug traffickers walk free.

Despite its flaws, the new justice system is an improvement over the past. However, its inconsistency in handling political pressure is alarming. I witnessed this firsthand when charges against Veliaj surfaced. I wrote an editorial questioning the credibility of the anonymous informant behind the accusations—someone who had access to government documents and was taken so seriously by SPAK.

Speculation ran wild. Some suggested Greek intelligence was involved through prosecutor Olsi Dado. Others blamed Minister Belinda Balluku due to a personal dispute with Veliaj. Some even claimed SPAK fabricated the report and disguised it as an anonymous tip. I dismissed these theories and simply sought to uncover the truth.

What happened next was shocking. Two journalists informed me that prosecutor Olsi Dado, enraged by my editorial, pressured SPAK’s press office to issue a statement increasing Veliaj’s charges from two to four—allegedly because "Mero Baze is defending him."

This means that after years of defending SPAK against opposition attacks, I merely asked who was behind an anonymous report, and in response, they arbitrarily escalated charges against Veliaj.

This isn’t speculation—it’s a public record. When Veliaj was initially questioned, he faced two charges. After my editorial, two more were suddenly added. What provoked the prosecutor? Was it because one of the three earlier scenarios was actually true? If so, this suggests either foreign intelligence involvement or a politically motivated case fabricated within SPAK.

If charges can be added against a politician just because a journalist questions the case, we have a serious problem. Either our justice system is politically driven, or it is so incompetent that it fabricates charges first and searches for evidence later.

This experience has made me reevaluate their integrity—not just that of Olsi Dado, whom I have known since we both supported the Democratic Party—but of the entire prosecutorial and judicial structure. These same figures, too afraid to confront those who attack them, instead assert their authority over those who have supported them. And in the end, they seek validation from Sali Berisha, ensuring they have his approval. Ironically, they only dare to complain about government interference because, without it, we wouldn’t even hear their voices.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Drejtësia duhet mbrojtur nga politika, nëse ajo nuk merret me politikë"