The court hearing against former Freedom Party MP Monika Kryemadhi has been postponed to November 5 due to a boycott by lawyers. After the session ended, Kryemadhi reacted to the media, expressing dissatisfaction with the way the trial against her is being conducted. She said the situation being created infringes on her right to defend herself, while pointing out that at previous hearings she had been informed that the process would continue even without the presence of lawyers.
”I am in the continuation of my submissions, which I intend to continue at the other hearings”, Kryemadhi said, stressing that at this stage of the process she could continue her statements even without the intervention of the defence lawyer. However, she described the presence of lawyers in the courtroom, but without wearing their official robes, as a sign of the deadlock created in the justice system.
Kryemadhi also raised questions about the decision to boycott by lawyers, claiming that the decision was not taken by their entire community and that there is no official notification of a court decision related to this matter. “What concerns me is that this whole process is depriving me of the right to defence”, she declared, arguing that the law provides for defence by a lawyer, while under the current conditions she claims she is not fully able to exercise even the right to defend herself.
According to the former MP, this situation is creating uncertainty in relations between citizens, lawyers and courts, and calling into question the effectiveness of the Justice Reform. ”We carried out a Justice Reform to protect citizens, but in fact it does not protect them”, Kryemadhi said, describing the situation as both “absurd” and “painful”. At the end of her reaction, she stressed that in the face of this situation, according to her, “strategic patience” is required. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 5.