The Vetting process will enter in effect after a few weeks, but for
Judges and Prosecutors, it seems it has already started as regards the
non-immigrant visa process at the US Embassy of Tirana.
The Embassy has revoked several visas to several judges and prosecutors today, without giving any names. However, it is understood it is related to the vetting law.
“The U.S. Embassy has revoked the non-immigrant visas of several Albanian judges and prosecutors after determining that the officials no longer qualify for these visas. Because visa records are confidential under U.S. law, we cannot comment on individual cases. The U.S. Embassy took this action in advance of the upcoming vetting process that will assess certain officials’ ties to corruption and in response to a case involving the flagrant abuse of an official visa by a senior prosecutor and his spouse, leading to a revocation of their visas”, the Embassy’s announcement says.
Besides this, the first voluntary resignation was registered this Thursday at one of the Prosecutions.
The name of this Prosecutor is not known, but Top Channel has learned he worked at the ProsecutioN General.
This is not the first time the US Embassy revokes visa to a Prosecutor. On April 2016, Top Channel learned that the Embassy had rejected the visa to Agron Gjana, Chief Prosecutor of Durres. There were suspicions he could use it to stay illegally in the USA.
Based on the Vetting Law, a refused or revoked visa may be used as evidence for judges or prosecutors to be removed from the justice system, at least this is what is understood by the US Embassy.
“The U.S. Embassy takes seriously allegations of corruption and will continue to review justice officials’ visas and visa applications with additional scrutiny. The Department of State has broad authority to deny and revoke visas based on information indicating that a visa holder may be inadmissible to the United States, and will continue to use this authority to advance its anti-corruption efforts in Albania.”
The revoked visas are not the only consequences of the Vetting law. The Kavaja Prosecutor, Sulejman Tola, has refused to file the asset declaration and has resigned from his job. The law requires that he should hand the resignation over to the Presidency, but this institution refused to comment the case.
The Constitution allows people in power to resign if they think they will not pass the wealth vetting process. The Vetting law also gives them a financial award.
Four days before the applications are handed over, Top Channel has learned that from 800 people who will be vetted, 350 have filed their applications so far.
Top Channel
