STRASBOURG, 13 MARCH 2026 – Albania remains one of the countries with the highest number of complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), where property issues and delays in judicial proceedings constitute the main scourge of our justice system.

In this context, the Ombudsman, Mr. Endrit Shabani, was received today in an official meeting by the President of the ECHR, Mr. Mattias Guyomar.

The meeting emphasizes the partnership between the two institutions, so that the Ombudsman is no longer simply an observer, but an active filter that seeks the resolution of these files within the borders of Albania, according to Strasbourg standards.

The reality of Albanian files in Strasbourg:

• The property crisis: 1/5 of the complaints (17%) that reach the ECHR from Albania are directly related to property, proving the failure of domestic institutions to provide a final solution.
• Denial of process: 63% of complaints come from the lack of a due process, where the citizen is lost in the labyrinths of Albanian courts for decades.

Currently, there are 238 cases against the Albanian state waiting to be judged at the ECHR, while the Albanian state's obligations for the implementation of the decisions of this court in the last 10 years are estimated at around 40 million euros.

Message from the People's Advocate:

During the meeting, Mr. Shabani stated: "It is unacceptable that after three decades, Albanian citizens still have to cross the sea to find justice for their property. My commitment is that our institution will be the first defender of the right to property. We will exert pressure on the local administration so that the Strasbourg decisions do not remain mere papers, but turn into realized rights for every Albanian family."

For his part, President Guyomar congratulated Mr. Shabani for the new position and confirmed that the ECHR sees the Ombudsman as a key ally in ensuring that European human rights standards are implemented in Tirana.