Bring Erion Home.
Three-time elected mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj has dedicated his life to the public service and to Albania’s future.
On 10 February 2025, the elected mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was arrested by SPAK – the Albanian Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime. Since then, Erion has been arbitrarily detained and is awaiting trial in effective isolation. SPAK’s allegations and charges against Mayor Veliaj remain unproven. No pre-trial judge or trial court has considered, much less ruled on, any of the allegations or evidence against him. Erion’s case raises concerns around SPAK’s systemic procedural failures and violations of constitutional law, as well as the European Convention on Human Rights. Mayor Veliaj continues to categorically deny all allegations and charges of wrongdoing.
Mayor Veliaj’s prolonged detention has deprived him of the ability to govern, campaign, and otherwise perform his mayoral mandate. His repeated efforts to secure his release, through bail applications and subsequent appeals challenging his detention, demonstrate his commitment to following due process and abiding by the rule of law.
Recent attempts to remove the Mayor from office are unlawful and suggest his arrest is politically motivated. Although Albania’s Constitutional Court upheld Erion’s appeal and suspended the elections, unconstitutional manoeuvres and unwillingness to treat Mayor Veliaj fairly have left the people of Tirana vulnerable, effectively ignoring their democratic votes.
Our concern
We are concerned that SPAK has not upheld its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with its case against Erion.
Erion has maintained his innocence throughout this case. Corruption must be stamped out in Albania, but the Albanian justice system’s efforts to do so must always uphold human rights and fundamental principles of justice.
Erion's case is a clear example of a system that is not working as it was originally intended. He must be allowed to return home ahead of his trial to ensure he can defend himself fully and properly. No one should turn a blind eye to this case.
The recent attempts to remove him from office are unlawful and suggest that Mayor Veliaj’s arrest is politically motivated. The Albanian Constitutional Court suspended the Presidential decree calling for elections.
Erion wishes to return to serving the people of Tirana as Mayor.
In September, the Albanian Authorities attempted to remove Erion from his position as Mayor of Tirana in violation of the Constitution. President Begaj called early elections in the municipality.
In October, Albania’s Constitutional Court upheld Erion’s appeal and suspended the elections. This decision restores hope in Albanian constitutional law and for Erion’s future as Mayor of Tirana.
“That’s why what’s happening to Tirana’s mayor, Erion Veliaj, should worry us all… The EU should not be turning a blind eye… Arbitrary detention has no place in a European democracy.”
— Alastair Campbell, The New World