The murder of judge Astrit Kalaja in the courtroom appears to have been, according to the perpetrator, a consequence of an injustice that has dragged on for years in the judicial system. In a long letter from prison, obtained by VNA, Elvis Shkambi speaks for the first time after the tragic event that shocked public opinion, expressing both regret for the loss of the judge and indignation for the judicial decision that, according to him, “was more than scandalous.”
"Today I personally express my most sincere condolences to the Kalaja family, relatives, friends and colleagues of the deceased for the loss of their loved one! I feel great regret for the loss he has caused them, especially in relation to his 3 children for whom he was the most beloved person in the world," Shkambi writes.
He describes the event as an emotional outburst at a profound injustice.
"What happened that day was an illogical reaction to an equally illogical decision. I will say it and repeat it as long as I can, that decision was more than scandalous."
In his letter, Shkambi states that their family's case had become "a human experiment" by the Albanian justice system.
"For 13 years, my uncle Gjon Shkambi had been turned into a human experiment by the judicial system in Albania, and at a time when I was trying to end this experiment, the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction decided to continue that experiment."
Shkambi insists that the decision taken by the court was contrary to the laws and highest legal acts in the country.
“That court decision clearly contradicts the Civil Code of the Republic of Albania, the Code of Civil Procedure, the unifying decision of the Joint College of the Supreme Court, the decision of the European Court of Human Rights and the Constitution of Albania.”
However, he acknowledges that no injustice can justify the extreme act that took a man's life.
“Does this level of injustice justify my act? No, it does not. Opposing an injustice to oneself and others is morally right and manly, but not every way of reacting to injustice is right or justified.”
At the end of the letter, the perpetrator also addresses the children of the late judge, saying that he is not only guilty of the murder of their father, but also of those who pushed him to make that decision.
"I am also addressing the children of the deceased: in parallel with the hatred you cultivate towards me, do it for the truth. Those who pushed your father to make a totally unjust decision are as guilty as I am that he is not with you today."
Shkambi closes the letter with the warning that there is still much to tell.
"I have a lot to tell and I will tell it when the time comes. The Albanian state and I know each other well and I am confident that we will hold each other accountable for the damages and injustices we have done to each other."
The serious incident occurred on October 25, at the premises of the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Tirana, where after the end of the judicial session, Elvis Shkambi shot Judge Astrit Kalaja, who died instantly. The incident shocked the justice system and public opinion throughout the country.
