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1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and scandals of a mayor

2026-02-10 13:03:00, Aktualitet CNA

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and

On Monday, February 10, 2025, at 1:56 p.m., government media reported that the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was holding an activity in a garden in the capital.

In fact, these were the last media images of Veliaj at an event as mayor of Tirana, because when the media broadcast the tape distributed by the municipality's propagandists, BKH officers were in Veliaj's office with an escort order, according to a decision of the GJKKO at the request of SPAK.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
February 10, 2025, Veliaj's escort by BKH officers

CNA is the first media outlet to report the escorting of Mayor Veliaj, at 1:56 p.m. on February 10, 2025, providing photos and then videos as he left the city hall door with officers from the National Bureau of Investigation.

In the first footage, Veliaj appeared holding a gray file in his hand (without handcuffs, in violation of escort protocol), while a few minutes earlier the GJKKO decision on the security measure "prison arrest" had been communicated to him in his office.

Other images from Erion Veliaj's escort:

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and 1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and

For many actors and factors in the media, politics, justice, civil society, and others, Veliaj's escort to the cell until the security measure was verified by Judge Erion Bani was incredible news.

Prosecutors Ols Dado and Altin Dumani had put the mayor in jail, against whom they later announced 13 charges upon the conclusion of the investigation, and there is still another file under investigation.

"Assignment of the coercive personal security measure 'Arrest in prison', provided for by Article 238 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for the citizen under investigation E. V., acting Mayor of Tirana, as a suspect for committing the criminal offense of 'Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials', committed in collaboration (9 times) and 'Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity', provided for by Articles 260, 25 and 287/2 of the Criminal Code", SPAK's announcement stated.

13 charges for 5 serious criminal offenses

Erion Veliaj, accused of committing criminal offenses:

1. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received by “Agi Kons” sh.pk, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

2. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received from “Fusha” sh.pk, provided for by article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

3. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received by “Palushi” sh.pk, provided for by article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

4. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received by “Gerard-A” sh.pk, provided for by article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

5. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received from “Kontakt” sh.pk, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and

6.  “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received from the NGO “Eventus”, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

7. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received from the NGO “Muza”, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

8. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received from “BYL-A” NGO, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

9. “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration, in relation to the irregular benefit received by the “Frobolous” NGO, provided for by article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

10. “Laundering of the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”, committed in collaboration more than once, provided for by Article 287/2 of the Criminal Code;

11. “Introducing or keeping prohibited items in the institution for the execution of prison sentences”, more than once, provided for by Article 324/a/2 of the Criminal Code;

12. “Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has a legal obligation to declare”, provided for by Article 257/a/2 of the Criminal Code;

13. “Abuse of office”, provided for by Article 248 of the Criminal Code.

Chapter “Ajola Xoxa”

In this case, the involvement of Erion Veliaj's wife, Ajola Xoxa, also came to the fore in the communication from the Special Prosecution Office.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
The Xoxa-Veliaj couple

"The proceeding body has collected evidence that creates reasonable doubt about the existence and functioning of a corrupt scheme, the analysis of which in summary results that public funds originating from the Tirana Municipality institution have passed directly to the latter's wife and her family circle...," SPAK's announcement stated, among other things.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Ajola Xoxa in one of her appearances at SPAK

Xoxa was placed under house arrest for passive corruption in several cases.

"The imposition of the coercive personal security measure 'House arrest', provided for by Article 237 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for the citizen under investigation A. X., as a suspect for committing the criminal offense of 'Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials', committed in collaboration (9 times), 'Laundering the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity', 'Refusal to declare, failure to declare, concealment or false declaration of assets, private interests of elected persons and public servants or of any other person who has a legal obligation to declare', provided for by Articles 260 and 25, 287/2 and 257/a/2 of the Criminal Code", the announcement specified.

The SPAK investigation also shed light on the staggering expenses on luxury goods, clothes and jewelry of the wife of Mayor Erion Veliaj. The investigations led to villas, apartments and large sums of money received by Veliaj's wife due to her husband's office as mayor.

In Tirana, one of the most modest capitals in Europe, where the average salary is 600 euros per month, Ajola Xoxa, the wife of mayor Erion Veliaj, allegedly spent over 100 thousand euros per year on online shopping alone.

The investigation by the Special Prosecution Office against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) has uncovered around 130 customs declarations in her name or those of close associates between 2016 and 2021, for a total amount of 860 thousand euros.

The luxury goods imported through online retailers such as Net-a-Porter, Moda Operandi and Mercedes Distribution Moda, include a wide range of dresses, jewelry, bikinis, socks, accessories, make-up products, as well as other luxury products from brands such as Louis Vuitton and Prada. SPAK uncovered around 900 thousand euros in purchases over several years. 

"Investigative actions carried out in relation to the expenses made by Ajola Xoxa and her relatives in the amount of 86,721,175 (eighty-six million, seven hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and seventy-five) lek for clothes, cosmetic products, lipstick, earrings, etc.," SPAK writes in the request for the security measure against Xoxa and Veliaj.

Collaborators of the Veliaj-Xoxa couple

The couple's businessmen or associates were also charged: Elman Abule, Gentian Sula, Fatmir Bektashi, Meriman Palushi, Shkëlqim Fusha, Sokol Kryeziu, Mirton Lika, Linda Kazani, Erald Simixhiu, Ina Goxhaj, Frosina Bollo, Valmir Xoxa, Adela Kondakçiu, Flutur Xhani and Fatjon Baci.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Erion Veliaj's collaborators

In about 12 years at the head of the Municipality of Tirana, Veliaj was also seen as Rama's successor, the contradictions with whom were often media-related, which took a different path with his arrest.

Attacks on SPAK, prosecutors and public fraud schemes

Media attacks on SPAK prosecutors and GJKKO judges are systematic, not only by the arrested mayor, Erion Veliaj, but also by people close to him.

It has been a year since SPAK prosecutors and GJKKO judges have been attacked and intimidated by Veliaj in foreign media, his servants in Tirana, but also through lobbying in the US.

For a year, there have been a series of writings, commissioned articles, positions and opinions, which are sponsored, supported, sometimes with payment, sometimes not, with a single goal. Erion Veliaj seeks conflict with prosecutors, to remain silent or withdraw, so that in the end his security measures can be eased.

For a year of lies, fraud and schemes, from the useless, the servile, the clients of the beneficiaries or collaborators, some appear on screens and equally on social networks that produce news, but which are paid to create a general spirit of pressure and manipulation with attacks on prosecutors and judges, in Erion Veliaj's attempt to gnash the teeth of justice from the cell.

Veliaj of "Mjaft!", "G-99" and Rama

Erion Veliaj began his engagement as an activist with the creation of the MJAFT! movement, which operated at the time during the government of Fatos Nano and was one of Sali Berisha's main collaborators in the protests and movements against the Socialist Party and its government.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Erion Veliaj with MJAFT!

Veliaj then went on to found the G-99 party in 2008 and then in the 2009 parliamentary elections received fewer votes than the communists and any other SP ally. Today, his then-candidates are among the SP elite, although some have not even been able to get their family votes.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Veliaj in a G-99 statement

In 2011, Veliaj joined the ranks of the Socialist Party of Albania, where he was appointed Secretary for Youth and Immigration.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Veliaj in his early years in politics

Edi Rama sheltered him in the Socialist Party and made him one of his closest associates, giving him secretarial positions and organizational responsibilities. The fraudulent reports to EU officials on the Elvis Roshi issue or the "red ink" on the heads of the January 21 protesters by former Mjaft thugs, who were once Berisha's allies and later became part of the socialist structures, would put a dent in Veliaj's career. Subsequently, due to many political actions and inactions, he was considered Rama's "pet".

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Edi Rama and Erion Veliaj at a party event

In the parliamentary elections of June 23, 2013, Erion Veliaj was elected as a deputy of the Gjirokastra District and was later appointed Minister of Social Welfare and Youth. Along the way, a wedding that passed through a castle, continued for a week in the most luxurious restaurants and hotels, "with the pension" of the Eagle's mother, became the news of the year.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
The wedding of Erion Veliaj and Ajola Xoxa

In September 2014, Veliaj was not just a rising star in politics, but also in showbiz. He had outdone every VIP wedding, the birthday of Ilir Meta or Rama, and other weddings.

In April 2015, Veliaj was nominated as the Socialist Party's candidate for mayor of Tirana. He won the 2015 local elections in Albania and took office on 31 July 2015. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2023.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Erion Veliaj at one of the Municipal Council meetings

Veliaj's ambition for a political career continued even deeper after the Socialists took power, appearing alongside Rama as his successor. And while Veliaj increased his desire for public protagonism, behind his image began to hide falsehood, abuse of power and the construction of a scandalous and corrupt administration in the Municipality of Tirana. From the "5D" investigative file, which led to the arrest of the entire chain of command of the Municipality of Tirana, to the arrest of Mayor Veliaj himself, are the facts of how a "fortress" of corruption and scandals is built by a group of individuals who sought the political legacy of the Socialist Party.

Handcuffs for Veliaj

It's been a year since the arrest of the arrested mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, and although it seems incredible, there is still much to be discovered about the case, and many more developments are expected in the future. Another file continues to be under investigation.

Despite being in prison on 13 charges for 5 serious criminal offenses, Veliaj's scandals go even further.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Veliaj before the Constitutional Court

After the ban, the publication of dozens of pages of wiretaps with directives, attacks and accusations against prosecutors was an unheard of and previously unread case. A scandal that exceeded every limit of human imagination and showed how power was used to "fight" against justice by attacking and deceiving the media. Without leaving aside the battles on social networks, by the "editor" who at that time was the enemy of SPAK and faced quite a bit of justice, but the approach of the elections softened him and he withdrew, seeing the costs that were coming to him politically.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Erion Veliaj, 2025

With the decisions of all courts at every level, Erion Veliaj remained in prison, where he has been for a year. On July 24 of last year, the case was sent to court by prosecutors Ols Dado and Altin Dumani, but Veliaj has not stopped his games with schemes and frauds against justice by postponing the court hearings against him and the decision to review the case on the merits for 7 months.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and
Erion Veliaj before the Court

Only on February 9, 2026, the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime decided to pass the case against Mayor Erion Veliaj for trial, after assessing that the investigations are complete and that there is sufficient evidence to be tried.

In a year in prison, Veliaj has also spent it postponing his court hearings, dragging along a large number of family members and associates, who risk serious criminal penalties.

1 year since Erion Veliaj's arrest/ Accusations, investigations and

Erion Veliaj, over the course of a year, has shown that he is afraid of facing facts, evidence, and above all, justice and a due process of law.

The masks fell, unlike the "European" politician who has preached himself over the years. Veliaj's multidimensional face was seen from wiretapping, media attacks, protection from people under accusation by SPAK or criminal lawyers, to lobbying with reports of lies and slander of the most monstrous kind.

After a year in prison, Erion Veliaj is still innocent, but with 13 serious criminal charges and with his true face in public, that of "Zdroms", as he called himself./CNA

 

 





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