"DIRTY" SCHEME AND "ADVICE THAT COMES WITH THE SOUL"/ Veliaj attempted to intimidate GJKKO by accusing SPAK of incompetence

2026-02-02 18:01:00, Aktualitet CNA

"DIRTY" SCHEME AND "ADVICE THAT COMES WITH THE SOUL"/ Veliaj

Erion Veliaj is undoubtedly the biggest and most expensive "fish" that has fallen into the net of justice pulled by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), if we speak with the familiar symbolism.

Not only for the profile, but mostly for the 13 charges for 5 criminal offenses that SPAK has filed against the mayor of Tirana, who was handcuffed in his office and is being held in solitary confinement.

But the former activist mayor, as with almost everything in the past, is also attempting to resort to intimidation schemes in his confrontation with justice, at a time when his plans for delay have gone up in smoke.

In the court hearing on the investigative file he is facing, the arrested mayor is reported to have "attacked" the Special Prosecution Office for the cost of the investigation that landed him in jail.

"1 year in prison, 2 and a half years of investigations, has cost the Albanian state in salaries for prosecutors, investigators, judges, logistics, guards, transport, administration, experts - over 1 MLN Euros," Veliaj declared in the hall.

The mayor has continued his attempt to discredit the work of SPAK and the issue that led to and keeps him in prison, despite all the efforts he has made to get out of prison.

Veliaj has also used the famous symbolism of the big fish for this purpose, which is used whenever high-ranking officials appear before the "Lady of Justice" with their eyes closed.

"Today, the hook has become more expensive than the fish you claim to have caught," said the arrested mayor, who SPAK says was caught violating the laws and abusing his office.

These are just the latest acts of a "dirty game" and scheme that Erion Veliaj and his associates played out the entire time the case was in preliminary hearing.

After he was handcuffed and the Special Court confirmed that he should remain in custody, Veliaj's supporters protested against SPAK, and Veliaj, as has been documented, ordered a media attack campaign.

During the preliminary review of the investigative file, Veliaj attempted to delay the process, to the point that SPAK made a special statement about these attempts in December of last year.

But they all failed!

The Special Court completed this Monday the preliminary examination of the file against the mayor, his wife and associates, who were also indicted.

On February 9, it is expected to be known whether Veliaj's case will go to trial.

SPAK has filed 13 charges against the mayor of Tirana for criminal offenses such as passive corruption, money laundering, failure to declare assets, abuse of office and bringing items into prison./ Oranews