Following the arrest of lawyer Ulian Barjami in Vlora, the Local Bar Association and the Criminal Lawyers Association of Albania have reacted harshly, describing the action as an act of intimidation and a serious violation of the principles of the rule of law.
In an official statement, the Vlora Bar Association states:
” The Vlora Bar Association expresses its deepest indignation and concern over the arrest of lawyer Ulian Barjami, an event that cannot be considered simply a legal action, but an open attack on the independence of lawyers and justice in Albania.
This arrest raises strong suspicions about the use of state mechanisms to intimidate the legal profession and send a clear message to any lawyer who dares to defend his clients with rigor and independence.
A lawyer is not an ordinary citizen; he is a guarantor of justice and legal protection for citizens, and attacks on him are attacks on the rule of law itself.
The Vlora Local Bar Association urgently requests:
-A prompt and impartial investigation, free from any political or administrative influence;
-Full respect for the rights of the lawyer, as guaranteed by the Constitution and international conventions;
-Ensuring that no pressure, threat or manipulation will violate the independence of the legal profession and the right of citizens to legal protection.
The Vlora Local Bar Association makes a strong appeal: any attempt to intimidate lawyers is a direct attack on justice and democracy. We will use all legal means and denounce any attempt by the state to violate the independence of the profession. ”
The Albanian Criminal Lawyers Association has also reacted strongly to Barjam’s detention, stating that he was arrested only because he declared his intention to report the prosecutor for evidence manipulation:
