The trial panel of the Special Appeals Chamber, composed of judges, Sokol Çomo as presiding judge, Ina Rama case rapporteur, Albana Shtylla, Mimoza Tasi, Natasha Mulaj as members, announced the decision on case no. 22/2024, dated 07.06.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the assessee Milan Laskaj filed against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission, no. 748, dated 27.03.2024.

In conclusion of the review of the case in camera, the trial panel, pursuant to article 66, paragraph 1, item “b” of law no. 84/2016, “On the transitional re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors in the Republic of Albania”, unanimously ruled on:

Amendment of decision no. 748, dated 27.03.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission and confirmation in office of the assessee Milan Laskaj.

This decision is final and effective immediately.

Announced in Tirana, today on 01.10.2025.

On Wednesday, 29.10.2025, at 10:00, the Special Appeals Chamber shall review in camera the case (JR) no. 24/2023, dated 05.06.2023, corresponding to the appeal filed by the assessee Besnik Shehu against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 641, dated 06.04.2023.

The trial panel for the review of this case is composed of judges:

Presiding judge:         Ina Rama

Case Rapporteur:      Mimoza Tasi

Members:                   Natasha Mulaj, Rezarta Schuetz, Sokol Çomo

The hearing in camera shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.

************

On Tuesday, 28.10.2025, at 10:00, the Special Appeals Chamber shall adjudicate in public hearing the case (JR) no. 47/2023, dated 19.10.2023, corresponding to the appeal of the Public Commissioner filed against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 689, dated 24.07.2023 rendered for the assessee Ervin Pollozhani.

The trial panel for the adjudication of this case is composed of judges:

Presiding judge:         Ina Rama

Case Rapporteur:      Albana Shtylla

Members:                   Mimoza Tasi, Rezarta Schuetz, Sokol Çomo

The public hearing shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.

On 17.09.2025, the Appeal Chamber held the hearing in camera of case with registration number (JR) 3/2024, dated 18.01.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the assessee Blerina Muço against decision no. 711, dated 01.11.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission.

Following the consideration of the case in camera, the trial panel, pursuant to Article 51, paragraph 1 (b) of Law no. 49/2012 “On administrative courts and the adjudication of administrative disputes”, as amended, decided to transfer the trial of this case in a public hearing, for an accurate and complete ascertainment of the factual situation related to the payment of tax obligations for the income generated by the assessee’s related person (spouse).

The public hearing shall take place on Tuesday, 07.10.2025, at 09:30.

The trial panel of this case consists of judges:

Presiding:        Sokol Çomo

Rapporteur:     Natasha Mulaj

Members:        Albana Shtylla, Mimoza Tasi, Rezarta Schuetz

The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3. Tirana.

On Thursday, 09.10.2025, at 10:00, the Appeal Chamber shall consider in camera case (JR) no. 16/2024, dated 14.05.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the assessee Pranvera Stafa against decision no. 740, dated 08.03.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission.

The trial panel of this case shall consist of the following judges:

Presiding:        Rezarta Schuetz

Rapporteur:     Ina Rama

Members:        Albana Shtylla, Natasha Mulaj, Sokol Çomo

The hearing in camera shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.

The Appeal Chamber held on 24.09.2025, at 10:00, the public hearing of case (JR) 12/2024, dated 29.03.2024, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 736, dated 31.01.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Gentian Habazaj.

The presiding judge announced that Article 179/b, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and Article 199, second paragraph of the Civil Procedure Code have set forth the transfer of powers from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office, represented in this case upon special authorization by the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office Mr. Adnan Xholi, present at the hearing.

During the submission of the appeal grounds related to the asset assessment criterion, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office held that the financial analysis carried out by the Independent Qualification Commission is unsupported on the acts of the case file and that the assessee has failed to convincingly prove the legitimate sources of the assets in use and the coverage of the made investments. As to the proficiency assessment criterion, Mr. Xholi stated that the reasoning of the assessee for the undertaken investigative actions remain of poor quality, lack logical and legal argumentation, and are unsubstantiated on the acts of the investigative file. The representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office requested the Chamber to decide the amendment of decision no. 736, dated 31.01.2024 of the Independent Qualification Commission and the dismissal from office of the assessee Gentian Habazaj.

During the submission of the objections, the assessee maintained that the appeal grounds do not stand, they are inconsistent with the evidence in the case file and that the conclusions drawn have been partially referred to the facts and documentation available. The assessee provided detailed explanations for each appeal ground related to the asset and proficiency assessment criteria and stated that the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission is fair, based on an in-depth investigation and should be upheld. In connection with the submissions, the assessee lodged some new acts, which the trial panel accepted as evidence.

Subsequently, to the purpose of the consideration of the case, the case rapporteur addressed several questions to the parties. The representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office stated that he would provide responses in the final conclusions, while the assessee provided explanations with their regard.

Once the parties declared that they had no other procedural requests, the trial panel decided to close the judicial investigation of the case and invited the parties to present their final conclusions. In order to give the parties time to prepare, it was decided to postpone the hearing on 14.10.2025, at 10:00.

The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.

The Appeal Chamber held on 29.09.2025, at 10:00, the public hearing of case (JR) 37/2023, dated 02.08.2023, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner against decision no. 650, dated 27.04.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission, related to the assessee Ylli Pjetërnikaj.

The presiding judge announced that Article 179/b, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and Article 199, second paragraph, of the Civil Procedure Code have set forth the transfer of powers from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office, represented in this case upon special authorization by the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, Mr. Klodian Braho, present at the hearing.

During the submission of the appeal grounds, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office stated that the assessee has made an incorrect declaration of assets and is found in terms of financial incapacity to justify the legitimacy of the income, to such an extent that the principle of objectivity and proportionality cannot be applied. With regard to the proficiency assessment, Mr. Klodian Braho held that the assessee failed to prove the opposite of the burden of proof for the findings included in the appeal regarding the investigative actions undertaken by him. The representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office requested the Appeal Chamber to take into account the appeal grounds, ruling on the amendment of decision no. 650, dated 27.04.2023 of the Independent Qualification Commission and the dismissal from office of the assessee Ylli Pjetërnikaj.

The assessee objected to the appeal grounds, providing detailed explanations for each of them, whereas his legal representative stated that the essential income of the agricultural household cannot be zeroed, as long as there is no case, even suspected, of any corrupt activity of the assessee. The assessee requested the opening of the judicial investigation, accepting as evidence the acts attached to the submissions, as well as a new document lodged during today’s hearing.

As to the denunciations, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office maintained that they contain no circumstances of interest for the trial.

The assessee stated that in this context, he shares the same position as the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office.

The trial panel decided to open the judicial investigation of the case, accepting as evidence all the acts filed according to the today’s hearing minutes, apart from one document, for which it provided the assessee the opportunity to lodge it in the form required by law before the subsequent hearing.

After being consulted, the trial panel decided not to investigate further the denunciations, as they fail to meet the criteria of Article 53 of Law no. 84/2016.

The trial panel decided to postpone the hearing to 15.10.2025, at 09:00, a hearing during which the parties will present their final conclusions.

The public hearing shall take place at the premises of the Appeal Chamber, at Boulevard “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, no. 3, Tirana.

Today on 29.09.2025, at 13:00, the Special Appeals Chamber held the public hearing on the case (JR) 38/2023, dated 04.09.2023, pertaining to the appeal of the Public Commissioner filed against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 673, dated 15.06.2023, rendered for the assessee Mirela Zavalani.

The presiding judge of the trial panel announced that Article 179/b, paragraph 8 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania has dictated the transfer of powers from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office. Pursuant to Article 199, paragraph 2 of the Civil Procedure Code, the trial panel decided to transfer the procedural proceedings from the Public Commissioner to the Head of the Special Prosecution Office, represented in this case with special authorization by the prosecutor of the Special Prosecution Office, Mr. Adnan Xholi, who was present at the hearing.

During the submission of the appeal grounds on the asset assessment criterion, the representative of the Head of the Special Prosecution Office assessed that the declarations of the assessee, Mrs. Mirela Zavalani, are unclear and contradictory in relation to the acts in the file, making her declarations unreliable, inaccurate, and making it impossible to examine the lawfulness of the sources of her assets and those of the related persons. Mr. Adnan Xholi requested the Appeals Chamber to take into consideration the appeal grounds, demanding the opening of a judicial investigation for new evidence to be received during this process, in order to reach a fair conclusion on the case.

Further on, the assessee Mrs. Mirela Zavalani and her legal representative, provided detailed explanations for each of the appeal grounds and requested the Appeals Chamber to open the judicial investigation of the case, accepting as evidence the new acts attached to the submissions, for which they stated they clarify every unclear circumstance of the administrative investigation carried out by the Independent Qualification Commission, as well as convincingly supporting the standard of reliability of the assessee in her declarations.

Following the consultation, the trial panel decided to open the judicial investigation of the case, accepting as evidence the written acts specified by the assessee in the written submissions filed as well as in the inventory of evidence attached to these submissions.

After the parties declared that they had no other procedural requests, the trial panel decided to close the judicial investigation of the case and invited the parties to present their final conclusions at the subsequent hearing scheduled to be held on 16.10.2025, at 8:30 a.m.

The public hearing shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.

On Tuesday, 28.10.2025, at 10:00, the Special Appeals Chamber shall adjudicate in public hearing the case (JR) no. 47/2023, dated 19.10.2023, corresponding to the appeal of the Public Commissioner filed against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 689, dated 24.07.2023 rendered for the assessee Ervin Pollozhani.

The trial panel for the adjudication of this case is composed of judges:

Presiding judge:         Ina Rama

Case Rapporteur:      Albana Shtylla

Members:                   Mimoza Tasi, Rezarta Schuetz, Sokol Çomo

The public hearing shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.

On Wednesday, 29.10.2025, at 10:00, the Special Appeals Chamber shall review in camera the case (JR) no. 24/2023, dated 05.06.2023, corresponding to the appeal filed by the assessee Besnik Shehu against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 641, dated 06.04.2023.

The trial panel for the review of this case is composed of judges:

Presiding judge:         Ina Rama

Case Rapporteur:      Mimoza Tasi

Members:                   Natasha Mulaj, Rezarta Schuetz, Sokol Çomo

The hearing in camera shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.

On Thursday, 30.10.2025, at 10:00, the Special Appeals Chamber shall review in camera the case (JR) no. 28/2024, dated 19.07.2024, corresponding to the appeal filed by the assessee Agron Zhukri against the decision of the Independent Qualification Commission no. 759, dated 19.04.2024.

The trial panel for the review of this case is composed of judges:

Presiding judge:         Sokol Çomo

Case Rapporteur:      Natasha Mulaj

Members:                   Albana Shtylla, Ina Rama, Mimoza Tasi

The hearing in camera shall be held at the premises of the Special Appeals Chamber, at: Bulevardi “Dëshmorët e Kombit”, nr. 3, Tirana.