With two decisions announced on Thursday, Albania’s Special Appeals Chamber has effectively concluded the review of 417 cases under the country’s judicial vetting process, a key pillar of the justice reform launched with constitutional and legal changes in 2016.

The chamber dismissed Vlora prosecutor Aurel Zarka, overturning a previous decision by the Independent Qualification Commission. The ruling was issued unanimously and takes immediate effect.

In a separate case, the chamber upheld the earlier decision of the commission regarding legal assistant Majlinda Tosku of the Tirana Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction.

Although the main vetting process has now been completed, the Special Appeals Chamber will continue working until the end of its constitutional mandate in June, finalizing written reasoning for previously announced decisions and reviewing requests for reconsideration submitted by dismissed officials.