The Head of the EULEX Mission, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, has called for an immediate end to attacks on judges and prosecutors, stressing that judicial independence is a cornerstone of the rule of law.
In a statement shared on his official X profile, Barbano emphasized:
“Judicial independence is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law: the independence of judges must be respected by everyone, at all times. Unnecessary interference through direct personal attacks on judges and prosecutors carrying out their duties is always unacceptable.”
The remarks come after heightened political tensions in Kosovo, where acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti strongly criticized the Constitutional Court, describing it as a “political shadow of the opposition” against his party, Vetëvendosje.
Kurti condemned the Court’s recent decision to suspend procedures for forming a new government, saying it has blocked the work of 120 MPs for 25 days.
“Five out of seven judges of the Constitutional Court were elected back in 2018 when the PAN coalition with the Serb List was in power. Since then, Vetëvendosje has won elections three times — in 2019, 2021, and again this year — but the same judges remain in place, as if it were still 2018,” Kurti stated.
