The tragic and shocking assassination of Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja inside the Tirana Court of Appeal has sent a violent tremor through Albania's judicial system, immediately sparking a national debate over the perilous lack of security in courtrooms. The incident, which unfolded tragically in the middle of a court session on a Monday afternoon, resulted in the death of the presiding judge and the injury of two other individuals involved in the proceeding.
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| Judge Astrit Kalaja in his daily routine as he leaves the Court of Appeal in Tirana |
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| Portrait of Elvis Shkembi |
The Courtroom Attack and Immediate Fallout
The attack occurred as Judge Kalaja was concluding a session in a long-standing property dispute—a type of case that has frequently bred intense animosity in the country. According to journalist Igli Çelmeta, who revealed the sequence of events on A2 CNN's "Off The Record," the court hearing had proceeded without apparent tension until the moment the verdict was being announced. It was at this critical juncture that Elvis Shkëmbi allegedly drew a weapon, firing three fatal shots at Judge Kalaja. Following the shooting of the judge, Shkëmbi also fired upon Ervis Kurtaj and Ragip Kurtaj, a father and son who were the opposing parties in the property case. Both men sustained injuries and were rushed to the Trauma Hospital for medical treatment, though their injuries are thankfully not considered life-threatening. The suspect then reportedly surrendered the firearm and remained in the court's courtyard until his arrest.
The loss of Judge Kalaja, an official who died while carrying out his judicial duty, has been described by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) as a severe blow to the entire judicial system and Albanian society. GJKKO’s strong public reaction underscored the event as an "alarm" regarding the general security conditions for magistrates in the Republic of Albania, emphasizing that the personal safety of judges—the "pillars of the justice system"—is an institutional obligation essential for the rule of law.
A Dispute Rooted in Property Chaos
While the official motive is still under investigation, early reports and the suspect's alleged first words suggest the killing was directly linked to the property dispute and his belief that he was about to lose the case. One local media report cited Shkëmbi telling police, "I shot him because I was losing the trial. I was correct with my papers."
The property dispute at the center of the violence reportedly involved the ownership of a building in Shkodra, a contentious case that has dragged on for years and affected multiple families. Gjok Martini, one of the family members involved in the legal battle with Shkëmbi, recounted the decade-long struggle on the A2 CNN show, stating that their legal conflict began in 2011. Martini claimed that 30 families occupied the building with a municipal decision dating back to 1992, but just before they could privatize their homes, they were informed that Elvis Shkëmbi (referred to as Gjon Shkëmbi) had already done so.
Martini strongly accused the former head of the municipality at the time, Lorenc Luka, of issuing false documents to Shkëmbi, allegedly in exchange for €70,000, claiming that Shkëmbi was not the legitimate owner or heir to the property, which was originally a state school. Martini asserted that they had won the cases in Shkodra due to Shkëmbi's lack of genuine paperwork, suggesting the Appeal Court case was a culmination of this fraught legal battle.
Security Failures: A Red Flag Ignored
The horrific attack has starkly illuminated the dangerous inadequacy of security protocols within Albanian courthouses. Journalist Igli Çelmeta’s reporting was particularly damning, revealing that the perpetrator, Elvis Shkëmbi, was able to enter the Court of Appeal fully armed because the metal detector at the entrance was malfunctioning—and had been for "days," not just the day of the incident.
This flagrant security lapse was further criticized by journalist Poli Hoxha on "Off The Record," who denounced the systemic lack of security in courts that allows "many dangerous people to enter and exit every day." Hoxha highlighted the fact that Shkëmbi already had a history of threatening behavior related to this very property dispute, including reportedly threatening the Shkodra residents with a Kalashnikov—a clear "red flag" that should have necessitated closer scrutiny and stricter security measures. Hoxha argued forcefully that the security failure, particularly the non-functioning metal detector, was the "absolute peak of the peak" of negligence, and that the murder appeared to have been pre-meditated, contingent on the outcome of the judgment.
Calls for Immediate and Robust Reform
The assassination of a judge within his own courtroom has been universally condemned across the Albanian political and judicial spectrum, with numerous figures and institutions demanding immediate and fundamental security reforms.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the immense pressures and personal risks faced by magistrates, especially in high-stakes property and criminal cases. The clear failure of internal security—epitomized by the non-functional metal detector—must be addressed immediately to ensure that justice officials can perform their duties without fear of fatal reprisal. The demand from the judicial community is clear: the state must uphold its responsibility to protect the safety and physical integrity of its justice personnel as a non-negotiable "red line."
The shocking loss of Judge Astrit Kalaja will forever mark a dark day for the Albanian judicial system, forcing an overdue and critical reevaluation of safety standards for all those who serve to uphold the law.