The mayor of Albania’s capital city says he has “not lost hope” despite being held in detention for over 18 months.
Erion Veliaj (pictured) has remained nominally in office as mayor of Tirana despite being held in what is known as pre-trial detention (PTD) since February 2025.
He is accused of corruption and money laundering but strongly denies any wrong doing.
The latest, and arguably most significant, in a protracted series of court cases takes place on 15 September when his case will be reviewed by Albania’s Supreme Court.
This comes after the country’s Constitutional Court called for a review.
In a dramatic new twist, the jailed mayor has now written a letter from prison in which speaks of a “political persecution” being waged against him.
It is thought to be the first time the hugely experienced official has spoken directly to the media in what has been a protracted legal case.
In the letter, dated 8 September, he says it has now been 19 months that he had been held in what is known as “pre-trial detention”.
He points out that his continued detention is “without being sentenced.”
He goes on, “Despite having won twice in the constitutional court the system is endlessly dragging its feet and delaying beyond reason my detention review despite the two constitutional court decisions.”
The Constitutional Court of Albania has issued two landmark rulings in favour of Veliaj, protecting his elected mandate and ordering a a fresh review of his pretrial detention.
The court first overturned the Tirana Municipal Council’s decision to dismiss Veliaj following his detention in February 2025 on corruption and money laundering charges.
In a second ruling in July the court annulled a Supreme Court decision upholding Veliaj’s continued pretrial detention and remanded the matter back for a renewed review.
The constitutional court found that lower courts failed to properly evaluate the necessity and proportionality of keeping a democratically elected mayor in prison, or to weigh less restrictive alternatives against his constitutional duties and the rights of voters.
The letter by Veliaj addresses his continued detention for over 18 months, saying that the “delays alone is, in itself, a punishment for the citizens of Tirana too, not only for me and my family.”
“They too are being deprived of the right to be served by their democratically elected mayor.”
He continues, “Albania’s democracy has, thus, been sentenced without a court order, much like my friend Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul.”
This is a reference to Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main political rival of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
İmamoğlu was arrested in March 2025 and remains in pre-trial detention at Marmara Prison.
He faces charges including bribery and extortion but denies any wrong doing.
Turkey’s opposition leader has said the charges were intended to prevent İmamoğlu running for president in the 2028 election.
His arrest was met with outrage from the CHP and prompted demonstrations across Turkey.
In his letter,Veliaj states, “In December 2024 I had my last meal with İmamoğlu hopeful that the future would be brighter for our democracies, citizens and countries.”
He concludes, “We were wrong – the demise of local democracy will be a stain for both our countries. We have exchanged letters from jail and still have not lost hope.”
He says that his legal team have been refused permission to meet with him to prepare his appeal to the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights, “without providing a reason.”
Although it has naturally received a lot of publicity within Albania itself the case has remained largely under the radar outside the country. But international interest is now starting to grow with highly respected publications and media outlets running articles about it.
The local lawyer acting for Veliaj, who has regularly appeared in court with him, told this site, “The decision on September 15 is highly significant. The Constitutional Court overturned the Supreme Court’s decision because it had failed to adequately address and justify the proportionality of pre-trial detention—the most restrictive security measure—in relation to Erion Veliaj’s constitutional mandate.
“He could potentially be released on the 15th. Our view is that the Constitutional Court has already settled the key legal issues, providing a basis for his release. However, that outcome is not guaranteed and will depend on the court’s decision that day,” said the Tirana-based lawyer.
This website reached out to the Albanian authorities for comment on the case.
Ida Vodica, director of the Public, Media and Foreign Relations Directorate for the Supreme Court, said, “I can confirm that the case concerning Mr. Erion Veliaj has been registered in the Supreme Court and is currently scheduled for 15 September 2026.
“The appeal (cassation) will be considered by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, in consultation room, sitting as a panel of three judges, in accordance with the applicable procedural rules.
“At this stage, no further comments can be provided regarding the merits of the case or the outcome of the proceedings.”
Albania itself is a leading front runner to join the EU, possibly as soon as 2030, and has been consistently praised by the EU for its ongoing efforts to introduce reforms seen as necessary for it to become the EU’s next member. But some fear ongoing issues with its judiciary may slow progress towards accession.
European Democratics, a pan European body, recently posted a statement on the case, adding that Albania’s Constitutional Court had overturned a Supreme Court decision and ordered a new review of his detention, “questioning its proportionality in light of his mandate as Tirana’s democratically elected mayor.”
European Democratics called on the Albanian authorities to “uphold the rule of law, the presumption of innocence and the principle of proportionality.
“We will keep the spotlight on it (the case), because Albania deserves a European future — one that is fully democratic, transparent and firmly committed to fighting corruption, while guaranteeing that justice is always exercised with fairness, independence and respect for fundamental rights.”
The case has also shed a light on the general use of pre trial detention.
On January 30, a joint letter was issued by the “B40 Balkan Cities Network” calling for an end to PTD. The letter calls PTD a “dangerous trend.”
The network promotes local democracy, sustainable development, and regional cooperation among Balkan cities.
Member mayors signed a joint solidarity letter addressing the pretrial detention of key figures, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Erion Veliaj.
