Courts
Bar Association ends nearly two-month boycott of anti-corruption court, lawyers return Nov. 2
Maksim Haxhia said the Bar will comply with the Administrative Court of Appeal's ruling but will sue over the court's rules restricting phones in hearings.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 30, 2026, 16:25 · Updated 19:02 · 1 min read
In brief
- The boycott began on Sept. 8 against the new rules of the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, in force since Sept. 1.
- On Oct. 28, the Administrative Court of Appeal suspended the effects of the boycott decisions at the request of the Anti-Corruption Lawyers' Association.
- The lawyers' return is expected to unblock trials postponed for lack of defense counsel.
The National Bar Association decided Friday to end its boycott of hearings at the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO). Lawyers will return to trials as normal starting Monday, Nov. 2.
The General Council's decision
The decision was announced by the Bar's head, Maksim Haxhia, after a meeting of the General Council that reviewed the situation following the Administrative Court of Appeal's ruling. Haxhia said the Bar will abide by the court's decision, but this does not mean it is giving up its opposition to the GJKKO rules. According to him, working groups have been set up for further legal steps. “We will file a lawsuit for the suspension and repeal of the rules,” he said.
Two months of boycott
Lawyers began the boycott on Sept. 8, in protest against the court's new internal rules, which took effect on Sept. 1. One of the main points of contention was the restriction on the use of mobile phones during hearings. On Sept. 23, the Bar extended the boycott to hearings on personal security measures as well.
On Oct. 28, the Administrative Court of Appeal granted a request by the Anti-Corruption Lawyers' Association and suspended the effects of the boycott decisions pending a ruling on the merits. Ending the boycott is expected to clear the way for resuming carried-over trials at the GJKKO, some of which were postponed because defense lawyers were absent. Only a day earlier, the Special Court did not hold the trial of Ilir Meta and Monika Kryemadhi without lawyers and postponed the hearing to Nov. 5.
