Statement on Erion’s right to equal defence

This month, Erion Veliaj has officially requested from the Special Prosecution Office to be provided with a physical copy of the investigative materials related to the investigation against him. He has made this request in order to have the possibility of preparing an effective defence, based also on the right guaranteed by Article 31 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, the request was refused with the argument that the documents had already been delivered to his lawyers via a USB. A USB which, given Mr. Veliaj’s current conditions of isolation, with no access to electronic devices, is practically unusable for him, and we, his lawyers, are not in a position to deliver all the acts to him due to their large volume.

Furthermore, the Special Prosecution continues to refuse Mr. Veliaj’s legitimate request to meet with his international lawyers, who are preparing the case for the European Court of Human Rights— a right that is guaranteed to him by the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Special Prosecution is handling this case with the mentality of “arrest first, investigate later.” This is concerning, especially given the high number of pre-trial detainees in Albania. Erion Veliaj does not have the possibility to access the case files, which he needs in order to defend himself. In addition, he is being prevented from exercising his duties as Mayor of Tirana, where he has been democratically elected by the citizens of Tirana for three consecutive terms.