The OSCE Mission in Albania and the General Prosecutor’s Office of Albania organized a conference on strengthening the role of prosecutors in combating electoral crimes, Anadolu Agency reports.
The event in Tirana brought together representatives of institutions, international organizations, prosecutors, judicial police officers, police representatives, and civil society organizations.
OSCE Ambassador to Albania, Michel Tarran, emphasized that prosecutors, judicial police officers, and police representatives have a fundamental duty to investigate, prosecute, and combat electoral crime.
“This activity takes place at a critical moment, just one day before the official start of the election campaign. Electoral integrity lies at the foundation of every democratic society. Ensuring free and fair elections requires strong institutions, accountability, transparency, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law,” Tarran said.
He commended the proactive and coordinated measures taken by institutions to address challenges related to electoral crime.
Albanian General Prosecutor, Olsian Çela, stated that this marks another important phase and a key moment related to the prosecution institution’s preparation for the electoral process.
“The exchange of opinions, experiences, and discussion on priorities and problems in investigating electoral crimes, I think, will not only raise awareness among prosecutors and police officers about what happens during the electoral process but will also make them more sensitive to understanding the essential importance of institutional performance in relation to the electoral process,” Çela said.
Albanian State Election Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, called on political parties and civil society organizations to address all concerns and problems related to the electoral process with concrete evidence, not political rhetoric.
“The invitation to political parties, but also to civil society organizations, is for a concrete address, based on evidence and not on political rhetoric or electoral narrative, of all concerns. I am confident that this electoral process will meet the standards required of a country that will become part of the European Union,” Celibashi said.
Representatives of the Albanian Police also spoke at the event. The conference, organized as a roundtable discussion, highlighted the OSCE Mission in Albania’s continued support to institutions “to achieve free and fair elections.”
