Albania’s General Council of Lawyers has decided to boycott court proceedings at the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), in protest against a regulation requiring lawyers to surrender their mobile phones upon entering the courthouse.

The boycott will apply to trials on the merits, while hearings concerning security measures will be excluded. Lawyers will therefore continue to attend proceedings related to security measures but will not participate in substantive trials before the Special Court.

The decision was taken following a meeting of the General Council of Lawyers. The National Chamber of Advocacy has called for the immediate suspension of the mobile phone regulation and urged authorities to review the measure.

Lawyers argue that restrictions on mobile phone use interfere with the exercise of their profession and their ability to perform their duties during judicial proceedings.

The meeting also addressed the case of lawyer Matlija, who reportedly complained about having his phone confiscated and being fined by the court.

The boycott is expected to apply to court-appointed lawyers as well. They have been asked not to participate in trials before the Special Court, with the exception of hearings concerning security measures.

The boycott will remain in effect until the disputed regulation is reviewed, according to the decision of the lawyers’ governing body.