Albania’s Prosecutor’s Office in Berat has opened a criminal investigation into the alleged failure to implement a court decision on judges’ salaries and is investigating employees of the local Treasury branch, according to Engert Pëllumbi, head of the Association of Judges and a judge at the Special Court of Appeals.

He said the Constitutional Court’s ruling declaring cuts to judges’ salaries unconstitutional cannot be considered an unlawful intervention in the state budget. He stressed that Constitutional Court decisions are legally binding and must be implemented immediately.

His comments come amid a growing dispute between the judiciary and the government over the implementation of rulings concerning judges’ pay. Prime Minister Edi Rama has argued that the judiciary cannot independently access state funds without parliamentary approval.

Pëllumbi said responsibility for failing to implement a court decision should be determined through an investigation by the competent authorities. He added that public officials who acknowledge having participated in decisions not to enforce a court ruling could potentially face criminal liability.

According to Pëllumbi, the criminal complaint filed by judges refers, among other offenses, to abuse of office and obstruction of the enforcement of court decisions.

He said the Berat Prosecutor’s Office has formally registered proceedings following a complaint filed by court administration employees and is carrying out investigative actions to determine potential responsibility among Treasury officials.

Pëllumbi described the dispute as a broader institutional crisis, arguing that judges are not seeking special privileges but the implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling. He said the judiciary would not completely suspend its work, although some courts could reduce activity and prioritize urgent cases, including detention hearings and security measures.