Kosovo Supreme Court Rebukes Government Over Judicial Independence Clash

Tensions between Kosovo's government and judiciary have escalated following the Supreme Court's repeal of an Administrative Instruction on fiscal devices, which was issued by an acting minister who lacked legal authority for such actions. The Supreme Court condemned the government's critical statements as unacceptable interference that undermines judicial independence and the rule of law, emphasizing that its decisions are grounded in the Constitution and must be respected by all state institutions. In response, Acting Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi accused the judiciary of declaring war on the government and vowed that the government would 'lose with great shame.' Meanwhile, the Kosovo Law Institute criticized the ruling Vetëvendosje Movement officials for openly encouraging citizens to disregard Supreme Court rulings, labeling it incitement to anarchy and a threat to democracy. In a broader regional context, concerns over judiciary independence and effectiveness persist, as highlighted by Montenegro’s legal experts who point to insufficient political will, inadequate resources, and low public trust in the judicial system. These developments underscore ongoing struggles in Kosovo and neighboring countries to balance governmental authority with judicial autonomy and maintain the rule of law.