Courts
Administrative Court of Appeal suspends lawyers' boycott of Special Court hearings
The court granted a request by the Albanian Anti-Corruption Lawyers Association and suspended, as a precautionary measure, two decisions of the National Chamber of Advocates ordering a boycott of hearings.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 28, 2026, 17:33 · Updated 18:43 · 1 min read
In brief
- The effects of the Chamber of Advocates' decisions of Sept. 8 and Sept. 23, 2026, on boycotting the Special Court are suspended.
- The request was filed by the Albanian Anti-Corruption Lawyers Association (SHAASH).
- The Special Court argued that the decisions exceed the Chamber's legal powers and conflict with the Constitution.
The Administrative Court of Appeal decided on Wednesday to suspend the enforcement of two decisions of the National Chamber of Advocates of Albania that had ordered lawyers to boycott hearings at the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, ATSH (the Albanian Telegraphic Agency) reported.
The two boycott decisions
The first decision, dated Sept. 8, 2026, ordered the boycott of hearings at the Special Court, while the second, of Sept. 23, extended and escalated it. Earlier this month, the Special Court continued the trial of former President Ilir Meta without defense lawyers.
Who brought the case
The plaintiff is the Albanian Anti-Corruption Lawyers Association (SHAASH), while the defendant is the National Chamber of Advocates. The Special Court was called in as a third party and filed written submissions arguing that the decisions exceed the Chamber's legal powers and conflict with the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the law on the legal profession.
A precautionary measure, not a final ruling
The court granted SHAASH's request for a precautionary measure. “The suspension of the effects of the two boycott decisions has been imposed as a precautionary measure for the lawsuit,” the announcement said. This means the Chamber's decisions remain without effect until the lawsuit is decided on the merits. A precautionary measure is a procedural tool meant to prevent irreparable harm while the court examines the case. Also on Wednesday, the Special Court rejected a request by SPAK, the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, to confiscate the assets of Nikolla Hafësllari, returning two garages and a vehicle to him.
