Haxhiu reacts sharply to minister Tahiri's presence at Judiciary Council meeting

The Kosovo Judiciary Council and the Prosecutorial Council have organised today a joint meeting with court heads and chief prosecutors to discuss the fight against organised crime and corruption as a condition for visa liberalisation.

Justice Minister Abelard Tahiri has attended this meeting. The presence of the justice minister, in the work of justice institutions, is unacceptable to us. It is the direct and open violation of even the little independence that the justice system has. A minister who misuses the Ministry of Justice to intervene in the system and a minister like Abelard Tahiri has only further hampered the work of prosecutors and courts”, Haxhiu has said.

“As we have understood, specific names that are being judged for corrupt cases are mentioned at this meeting. Abelard Tahiri will only do harm and create problems in fighting organised crime and corruption. We also express our concerns in relation to the approach of the Kosovo Judicial Council”, Haxhiu said, under which, allowing the presence of the justice minister, in meetings where sensitive issues are discussed, constitutes criminal work under Article 400 of the Penal Code, Article 400, “Failed to breach procedure secrecy”

1. Anyone without authorisation discloses information reported in the official procedure, which by law cannot be discovered or those information is declared as secret by court or competent law, is fined or sentenced to jail until (1) year.

2. Anyone without authorization reveals identity information or personal records of the person protected in criminal procedure or in the particular protection program is sentenced to imprisonment for up to three (3) years.

“Call on the institutions of justice, respect their constitutional and legal obligations”, Haxhiu has said.