On Sunday night, during his daily speech from his ninth-story living room window to a small crowd of devoted supporters, Sali Berisha launched into a tirade of accusations and insults directed at the head of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). The following day, the High Council of the Prosecution issued a muted response that did not mention Berisha by name but condemned attacks against the prosecution in general terms, reaffirming its commitment to independence.

Why is this important: Berisha’s insults are part of his ongoing campaign to discredit the judicial authorities he claims are unjustly targeting him. Given the intensity of his rhetoric, many expected the High Council to respond by explicitly calling him out and demanding action to curb his repeated behavior. However, the Council did nothing of the sort.

Context: In his address, Berisha accused SPAK Chief Altin Dumani of colluding with Prime Minister Edi Rama to persecute the opposition, using particularly harsh language to describe what he alleged was a politically biased and corrupt judicial system. “Altin Dumani,” Berisha declared, “you are nothing but a mercenary of Edi Rama, a disgrace, and scum! You lead a criminal political organization within SPAK, closing cases for Rama and targeting the opposition instead. You have the blackened face of a puppet serving a regime of crime and corruption!”

Council response: Despite the severity of Berisha’s accusations and the fact that he is under house arrest—supposedly restricted from communicating with the public—the Council’s response appeared weak and perfunctory. It seemed more like a formality, issued simply because a reaction was expected, rather than a strong condemnation and expression of support for SPAK.

The High Council of the Prosecution ultimately defended the integrity of SPAK and Altin Dumani, emphasizing the independence of judicial proceedings and condemning Berisha’s inflammatory rhetoric. They stated that attacks on judicial institutions undermine the rule of law and democratic principles and reiterated their commitment to impartial justice, free from political influence.

The Council’s statement read: “The High Council of Prosecution strongly condemns the inflammatory and offensive language used against the head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, and other judicial authorities. Such attacks undermine the independence of the judiciary and threaten the rule of law. We remain committed to carrying out our duties impartially and in accordance with the Constitution, regardless of political pressure.”