2026-03-05 All day
The Special Appeals Chamber held on 10.02.2026, at 10:00, the public hearing of case (JR) 42/2024, dated 28.10.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 779, dated 28.06.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Aurel Zarka.
The presiding judge informed the parties that the assessee Mr. Aurel Zarka lodged today a statement with the Chamber, through which he notifies that he has chosen to not attend the hearing, but to be represented by the lawyer Julian Mërtiri.
During the submission of the final conclusions, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office stated that there was an ethical and professional deviation of the assessee observed in terms of the background and proficiency criteria, and that Mr. Aurel Zarka fails to meet the constitutional and legal standards of integrity of a magistrate, being found inappropriate for continuing in office, under Article 61, paragraph 5 of Law 84/2016 “On the transitional re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors in the Republic of Albania”. The representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office finally requested that the Chamber, together with the issues in the asset assessment criterion, takes into consideration the appeal grounds in the overall evaluation of the case according to Article 4, paragraph 2 of Law no. 84/2016, deciding the amendment of decision no. 779, dated 28.06.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission and the dismissal from office of the assessee Aurel Zarka.
The legal representative of the assessee, Mr. Julian Mërtiri, held that the appeal grounds regarding the proficiency and asset assessment criteria were unfounded in law and evidence, objecting also as premature the findings and conclusions regarding the background assessment criterion, since, according to him, they are part of and supported solely on the criminal proceedings against Mr. Aurel Zarka. The legal representative stated that a decision different from the one of the Independent Qualification Commission would be grounded only on the acts of a criminal case under examination, for which there is still no final decision. Finally, the legal representative of the assessee requested the upholding of decision no. 779, dated 28.06.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission.
After hearing the final conclusions of the parties, the trial panel decided to close the judicial review of the case and withdrew in chambers to make the final decision, which it shall announce on 05.03.2026, at 16:00.
The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.
