Sali Berisha, leader of Albania’s Democratic Party and former Prime Minister, has been released from house arrest following a ruling by the Special Court of Albania (GJKKO).
The court’s decision, announced today, revoked the security measure that had confined Berisha to his residence, effectively ending months of house arrest. No alternative restrictions were imposed.
Genc Gjokutaj, Berisha’s lawyer, confirmed the ruling and expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “From today, Sali Berisha is free,” he said, adding that the court had found no basis for continued detention.
The defense had argued that there were no sufficient grounds for Berisha’s house arrest, and the court agreed. “The court concluded that there were no conditions or criteria for any restrictive measure,” Gjokutaj explained. He also noted that while the prosecution had sought to maintain the house arrest, the defense had pressed for Berisha’s release.
The decision follows a request made after a ruling by the Constitutional Court, though Gjokutaj declined to delve into the details of the case file. “Don’t be upset about Berisha’s release,” he concluded, signaling that the court’s decision was final.
Berisha, a controversial figure in Albanian politics, had faced mounting legal and political challenges in recent years. His release from house arrest, however, marks a new chapter in the ongoing political and legal battles that have defined his career.
