EU Office in Kosovo: Independent judiciary is the cornerstone of the rule of law and must be respected

The independence of the judiciary and prosecution is the cornerstone of the rule of law and must be respected, the European Union Office in Kosovo stated today for Gazeta Express, following Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s failure to respond to yet another summons from the prosecution to testify, despite a court order.

Without commenting on the specific case of the Kosovo Prime Minister, EU Office spokesperson Ioanna Lachana stated that the judiciary can be a subject of public and political debate, but criticisms must always be balanced and aimed at improving the system.

"The independence of the judiciary and prosecution is the cornerstone of the rule of law and must be respected at all times. The judiciary and prosecution in a democratic system can be subject to public scrutiny and political debate. While there are valid reasons to discuss the improvement of Kosovo’s judicial system, all criticism should be balanced, with the goal of promoting accountability, integrity, and efficiency within the judiciary," Lachana said.

She added that the EU Office expects every judicial process in Kosovo to be fair and balanced.

"As a principle, we do not comment on ongoing investigations or court proceedings. We expect every judicial process to be fair and proportionate, balancing the relevant interests," Lachana stated.