EditJudge’s murder in Tirana courtroom exposes deep failures in Albania’s justice system
Reportedly more than 11,000 people in the country have been killed in land-related conflicts since 1991
Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot dead in a courtroom in Tirana on the afternoon of 6 October, moments after delivering a verdict in a land dispute case. The killing, carried out while he was performing his judicial duties, has shocked Albania and reignited concerns over the safety and integrity of its judicial institutions.
Kalaja, originally from Shkodra, was a respected magistrate. A graduate of Tirana University’s Faculty of Law, he had served on the Court of Appeal since 2004 and was also a member of the Electoral College. Having successfully passed Albania’s vetting process for judges, his career had been seen as a model of integrity in a judiciary often criticised for corruption. His murder marks a grim turning point for the Albanian justice system.
According to the Tirana police, the alleged perpetrator is 30-year-old Elvis Shkembi, a party to the case. He also wounded two others – a father and son representing the opposing side. The tragedy unfolded in a small courtroom with only two rows of benches, allowing close proximity between the judge and the litigants.
Witnesses say that as the first shots rang out, court staff and citizens fled in panic. Disturbingly, the gunman reportedly told the clerk “no problem” before shooting the judge in the chest and calmly walking out of the courtroom with a relative. Judge Kalaja was rushed to hospital but did not survive; the other two victims are now out of danger.
Initial investigations revealed serious security lapses. Although a metal detector was installed at the court entrance, it had triggered an alarm without prompting a full search. Security relied on a single police officer and an administrative employee – an obviously inadequate measure. The case has been handed to the Special Prosecution Office, which is tasked with identifying those responsible for the failure. The Supreme Court has strongly condemned the murder, urging immediate reinforcement of security protocols in all courthouses.
Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed condolences to the judge’s family, calling for an urgent overhaul of court security. “This tragedy demands a full review of internal security systems in our courts,” he said, citing the lack of coordination between the judiciary and the police. Rama also called for harsher penalties for illegal gun possession, arguing that the current framework fails to deter such acts of violence.
For former prime minister and opposition leader Sali Berisha, the murder goes beyond an individual crime. He called it a “state crime”, exposing a deep crisis of public authority and growing insecurity in what he described as a “narco-state”.
Land ownership disputes
The case presided over by Judge Kalaja concerned a building belonging to the former Reserve School in Shkodra’s Skanderbeg neighbourhood. Since 1992, the building has been inhabited by 31 families placed there by the municipality. In 2012, Gjon Shkembi – the uncle of the alleged killer – claimed ownership based on family inheritance. Residents, however, insist the claim is fraudulent and based on forged documents. Eviction proceedings began in 2020, plunging the families into a long and painful legal battle that remains unresolved. The case has come to symbolise both the slowness of Albania’s justice system and the vulnerability of citizens trapped in a fragile legal environment.
As Courrier des Balkans noted, the tragedy unfolds against a complex historical backdrop. Since the fall of communism in 1991, Albania has faced a chaotic transition in land ownership. Under communism, most property belonged to the state; after 1990, restitution and legalisation were obstructed by missing documents, family conflicts, and administrative corruption. Key laws were introduced but implementation has been hampered by bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and political interference. The result has been chronic legal uncertainty that discourages investment and fuels social tension.
According to lawyer Kujtim Cakrani, interviewed by Euronews Albania in January 2024, more than 11,000 people have been killed in land-related conflicts since 1991. This alarming figure places Albania among the European countries most affected by property violence. The murder of Judge Kalaja underscores the urgent need for structural reform – in the judiciary, land governance, and courtroom security – to prevent justice itself from becoming a casualty of Albania’s unresolved past.
Caption: Illustrative photo from Pixabay
Updated: October 8, 2025 - 15:58
