With 13 charges for 5 criminal offenses/ Veliaj plays the victim in "Kusteteuse": What violations have I committed as mayor?

2025-10-31 11:36:00, Aktualitet CNA

With 13 charges for 5 criminal offenses/ Veliaj plays the victim in

The former mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, in his speech before the Constitutional Court, took on the role of the victim, stating that during his term as mayor he did not commit any serious legal violations.

Although SPAK has closed the file, where he is charged with 13 charges for 5 criminal offenses, and has sent him for trial, Veliaj still claims that his mandate was terminated without right. The stupidity of his speech does not end with these statements, while he states that today's session is historic, because democracy is being tested.

"As Martin Luther King said, the arc of the moral universe is long and exhausting, but in the end, this arc also leans towards the right. That is why I am here today as the mayor of Tirana. With the right that 160 thousand votes have given me. I have not committed any offense, but I am here before you with the respect that your high duty deserves to ask you to protect the democracy that is being put to the test today. The democracy that we have sworn to protect. This mandate is a public covenant that the citizens of Tirana have given me as free people. To protect it, I will do everything that the law, the strength of my mind and the strength of my heart allow me.

I am not defending a chair but the spirit of a citizen's connection with his elected representative. No one can terminate the mandate without completing it only if he has committed a serious violation of it. With respect to this Court, I ask today what serious violation I have committed today in exercising the mayoral mandate? The conviction that justice should stem from the Constitution, not from political protagonism or the thirst for a career at the expense of the freedoms of cities is unwavering. I hope that what the Constitution protects will be said out loud. In this session, a job is not being reviewed, but it is historic because it reviews democracy itself. The foundations on which our state stands.", said Veliaj.

According to SPAK, Erion Veliaj faces 13 charges for several 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” shpk, 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” shpk, 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 from “Palushi” shpk, 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 from “Gerard-A” shpk, 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” shpk, provided for by Article 260 and 25 of the Criminal Code;

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./ CNA