Albania's Supreme Court has urged the Finance Ministry to immediately unblock judges' salary payments, saying the lack of new legislation or budgeted funds cannot justify delaying implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling.

In a letter to Finance Minister Petrit Malaj, Supreme Court President Sokol Sadushi said parliament had been required to approve the necessary legal changes by July 31 under the Constitutional Court's Feb. 17 ruling.

The Supreme Court said that from Aug. 1 the previous salary formula could no longer have legal effect and cited a High Judicial Council decision of Aug. 26 as implementing, rather than changing, the constitutional ruling.

It said judges' basic reference salary from Aug. 1 should be 236,425 lek ($2,430), comprising a 222,425 lek position salary and a 14,000 lek qualification supplement.

The court also called for additional funds to cover current payments and for financial differences dating from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2026, to be addressed.

"Compliance with the Constitutional Court's decision is not a matter of institutional discretion, but a constitutional obligation," Sadushi said.