Albania’s New Prosecutor Vows to Tackle Crime

Adriatik Llalla started work as Albania’s new general prosecutor on Monday after MPs from the ruling Democratic Party voted him into office on Friday.“I was trusted to lead this institution … and will fulfill the duties subscribed in law,” Llalla said at the ceremonial handover from his predecessor, Ina Rama.

“During my mandate I will motivate the prosecutor’s office to fight crime and corruption without compromise,” he added.

Rama, meanwhile, thanked her staff for the difficult work they had done over the last five years and called for the prosecution office to remain independent of politics.

“You work has shown responsibility and we have set some standards,” Rama said. “I hope that the prosecutor’s office will remain independent and free from political influence.”

Llalla was voted in on Friday evening with 75 votes in favour in parliament, and 54 MPs, from the Socialist opposition, abstaining.

A former head of the High Inspectorate for the Discloser and Audit of Assets, HIDAA, Llalla was nominated as the new prosecutor by President Bujar Nishani on December 3.

A former prosecutor, he served before as deputy head of Tirana’s prosecutor’s office before heading the assets disclosure agency.