All anonymous and paid writings by Erion Veliaj

Erion Veliaj's propaganda machine has launched another attempt to attack the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, this time using a modest platform called "Europrospects". Through a long article, an attempt is made to create a narrative that Veliaj's arrest for corruption is "proof of the EU's credibility" and that SPAK is violating legal procedures.

This article does not seem to have any relevance to EU standards, but was written by an Albanian on a peripheral portal, which also has doubts about the way it is financed according to ChatGPT. The news was written by an anonymous name, identified as Eva Kelmendi, and when you search for it, there is not much information about her, while "Europrospects" has her first article, which adds to the doubts about the authenticity of the material.

This action shows the total degradation of Veliaj's lobbying. If once international media outlets that enjoyed a certain weight were paid, today the propaganda has ended up at the doors of "Europrospects", an online platform created only in 2022, which is run by students and young researchers without any institutional profile. This blog, which operates with a small staff and without any transparency on funding, represents nothing more than a space where opinions can be ordered according to the client's needs.

The "Europrospects" platform itself, at the end of the article, keeps a note stating that these are only the author's opinions and do not represent the official policy of the media or its editorial board. This detail proves that the article is not a position of European institutions, but a purchased opinion that can be ordered by anyone who wants to protect themselves from prison with money.
The article cites as arguments the "concerns" of international law firms such as "Kasowitz" in New York or "Mishcon de Reya" in London, which are known for defending Veliaj with hefty bills of 220 thousand dollars.

The use of these names shows that Erion Veliaj is spending huge amounts of suspicious money to lobby against Albanian justice in foreign offices. And now with anonymous names and anonymous portals they seek to tell Albanians that look, Veliaj's prison endangers our EU. The article goes so far as to call Veliaj's detention a "paradox of reform," ignoring the 13 serious criminal charges that have kept him behind bars since February 2025.

This synchronized attack, rapidly distributed by portals paid for by the brother of the mayor, Arbër Veliaj, shows the desperation of a group that now has no other defense than buying articles on peripheral blogs. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The fight against corruption at the highest levels is Albania's path to the EU, including Erion Veliaj. While his trial is scheduled for March 24, this smear campaign against SPAK only aims to put pressure on the judiciary, selling an official accused of stealing public funds as a "victim" of European standards./ CNA

The mayor arrested on 13 charges for 5 serious criminal offenses, Erion Veliaj, has again requested a change in his security measures.

On February 24, a hearing has been scheduled by the judge of the Court of Appeal, Nertila Kosova, to review the appeal, which alleges that the arrested mayor does not meet the conditions to be held in detention. ( READ HERE )

But what happens? The pattern repeats itself.

Every time Erion Veliaj has a court hearing, foreign media articles explode on Albanian portals.

Recently, Albanian media have published an article by "EU Reporter", which, in fact, is a manipulation and looks like the next pressure and blackmail against justice.

It is a cyclical, recurring fact that every time there is an important trial of Erion Veliaj, articles appear.

We bring you some of them:

The international media outlet "The Economist", in an article published on Thursday, August 7, 2025, titled "Albania's new anti-corruption unit is bringing down the powerful", explains why Erion Veliaj is in detention.

You can read the full article here.

Another international media outlet on the "Jerusalem Post" portal once again addresses the case of Mayor Erion Veliaj.

You can read the full article here.

An article from "EU Reporter" in June 2025 where Erion Veliaj is again defended, but with a structured effort to publicly rehabilitate the figure of a high-level official under criminal investigation.

You can read the full article here.

The latest is an article written on February 18 by “EU Reporter”, to which CNA previously sent an official e-mail regarding its position, but as always we have not received a response. So, the failure to respond, the silence, acknowledges the fact that these articles may be commissioned and paid for for lobbying purposes.

Such writings are used to intimidate justice.

Let's also read the article written by "EU Reporter" , which, in fact, the judge of the case dated February 24 should read in order not to become complex like her colleagues in such media nonsense because by taking a look at it, it is concluded that everything has been manipulated, taking out of context the positions given by EU officials and attaching Albania's path towards Europe and the fight against corruption as a success carried out by SPAK so far as a worrying issue directly related to the arrest of Erion Veliaj.

Although a question arises: why is it only related to Veliaj's arrest and not to other mayors, ministers or other officials, but specifically to Veliaj?

Then, the position of the lawyer of the law firms and lobbyists, who went and lied all the way to the US Department of Justice, is taken and added.

In the reports where they told us that prosecutor Ols Dado was an active member of the Democratic Party or the fact that this property developer had requested a permit for an addition and had been refused.

And, thirdly, which was even more ridiculous, the accusation that it was the prosecutors who had chosen the previous judge, Erion Banin, while the choice of the judge was made by one of the defendants during the appeals procedures, then the positions of the lobbyists are taken and deformed and tried to be sold as the positions of senior EU officials that Albania will have penalties with the imprisonment of the corrupt.

In fact, it is the opposite. Even the recent statement made in "EU Reporter" clearly seems to be another pressure on justice for the upcoming trial on February 24, 2026.

All officials support SPAK. Not to mention the detention figures, which in Albania have no connection to SPAK. Not even 5% of prisoners in detention are from SPAK, the other figures are related to the activities of the General Prosecutor's Office.

Without further discussion about how the visit of EU officials to Tirana is being handled and imposed, without further discussion about how the position of MEPs or other officials is being handled and sought to be distorted, without further discussion about the position taken by the mayors regarding the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, which can truly be called a political case, since he is an opposition leader and could be arrested by the autocratic government and President Erdogan.

Meanwhile, in Albania there is a justice reform carried out by SP officials, with a vetting process involving SP officials, with a SPAK and GJKKO structure voted by Parliament with the votes of 140 deputies, voted by Erion Veliaj's party, by him himself, and now all of this is being taken away and it is publicly accused that Erion Veliaj should not be held in custody, while the latter has 13 charges for serious criminal offenses and is being held in custody for tampering with evidence.

CNA, through the disclosure of wiretaps, has also shown that Erion Veliaj has staged and directed media from prison to attack the judiciary, prosecutors and judges.

Erion Veliaj is not in political prison.

Erion Veliaj is in prison on 13 serious charges and evidence tampering.

Meanwhile, there is another faction of the file where the mayor is being investigated. Everything that is being said is simply a scheming, a movement, thinking that with lobbying, with writings in Europe and writings in the US, Erion Veliaj will get out of prison.

With such forms, which can be written as pressure on judges to arrest various officials around the world, paid to say that it is not fair, everyone should be free.

But, in fact, SPAK and GJKKO have not risen to be part of the pressure of paid pens or media fines that Veliaj later used to publish these nonsense as pressure on the court, and it is now expected that the GJKKO Appeal decision on the security measure will be issued on February 24. That is why this article has appeared as we listed above, after dozens of such ones that are published in various media.

Soon, this article and several others that are being published on Albanian portals are expected to be part of the additional report that lobbyists may make, continuing to lie to the US Department of Justice, the US Senate or Congress, including EU officials, who seem to be clearer.

Here is the European Parliament's true stance on Albania according to the draft report that is expected to be approved soon.

The rule of law, the judiciary and the fight against corruption

6. Welcomes the continuation of the judicial reform and the vetting process; notes challenges such as delays in cases and attempts at undue influence;

7. Requires the strengthening of justice governance bodies and investments in infrastructure and digitalization;

8. Stresses that corruption remains a serious concern and requires strengthening of investigations and punishments, especially at high levels;

9. Insists on addressing corruption at all levels to increase citizen trust;

10. Stresses the importance of the fight against organized crime and cooperation with EU agencies such as Europol and Eurojust;", states the EP draft report on Albania./ CNA

"EU Reporter" published a long article a few days before the hearing on the security measure against Mayor Erion Veliaj, which will take place on February 24.

The publication of such articles, which cast a pall over detention in Albania and are specifically directed at Mr. Veliaj, are repeated in Albania, but also beyond its borders, whenever Veliaj has an important court hearing.

Article published in EU Reporter

CNA TV addressed an official e-mail to Mr. Colin Stevens, editor-in-chief of "EU Reporter".

Email sent by CNA

Mr. Stevens emphasizes that this is a publication that comes from external sources expressing their positions.

According to the editor-in-chief of “EU Reporter”, “The opinions expressed in the article are those of the interviewees and not of 'EU Reporter'”.

"EU Reporter" has no official editorial position on this topic, emphasizes Colin Stevens, thus dismissing the positions of lobbyists or lawyers for positions given by an important media outlet in Europe.

“The article in question was submitted to 'EU Reporter' by Brussels-based freelance journalist, Mr. Martin Banks.

Mr. Banks' name is clearly placed in the article as the author of the writing. 

'EU Reporter' publishes articles from a variety of external sources expressing a wide range of views.

The opinions expressed in the article are those of the interviewees and not of 'EU Reporter'.

"'EU Reporter' has no official editorial position on this topic," explains EU Reporter Editor-in-Chief Colin Stevens.

Colin Stevens' response to CNA

CNA TV has sent an official e-mail to the interviewees, as well as to the journalist who wrote the material and published it in "EU Reporter", asking whether it is his personal initiative or a request coming from certain groups or interests./ CNA

Erion Veliaj

An article published on the "Jerusalem Post" portal today revealed that Erion Veliaj's lawyers and his law firm are following Ilir Meta and his legal process step by step in the hope that the mayor will be quickly released from prison without a trial.

According to a post published in the Veliaj family newspaper, "Tema", which is run by Mero Baze, often called by 1001 nicknames because he is a stinking journalist and who from a ragged sock turned into a billionaire, owner of hotels and villas in Albania after the Rilindja came to power, it is quite clear that an editorial journalist or editor at the "Jerusalem Post" portal is concerned about the fate of Albania and especially of Erion Veliaj and Ilir Meta.

Article published in the Jerusalem Post

We have often seen this thesis of merging the thesis of Ilir Meta with Erion Veliaj in the writings of the journalist of the Veliaj family, Mero Baze.

The issues, their rights, were initially ready to unite him with Berisha simply and solely to benefit Erioni as much as possible, but then they abandoned the doctor on the streets and are following step by step the "Meta" case that is being developed in SPAK and the decisions that are being given for the former president.

This article was also published by Carlo Bollino, the man who was paid by the incinerators and calls it simply advertising, even though he received the money in the electoral campaign and who recently appeared in Belinda Balluku's wiretaps to influence a supervisor to be paid around 700 thousand euros, but Carlo again called it an honor.

What honor it is for a journalist to interfere with a ministry is another matter, but we see it now in the article sponsored in the Albanian media by Veliaj's people.

So, they follow the same practice, the same path.

But the funniest thing is that someone, perhaps for a fee, comes out and worries about the fate of Erion Veliaj, emphasizing that Albania must urgently restore the rule of law.

So, in Albania there is no rule of law and this is what an Israeli journalist tells us. We don't know if he has ever been to Albania, how much he knows about Albania, or if this article was commissioned by one of those companies that pay to advertise or write in foreign media, mainly as games and schemes of Mayor Erion Veliaj's brother, Arbër Veliaj, who is under investigation by SPAK in a faction file after that of the mayor and the businessmen involved in the first case.

So, there is no rule of law in Albania because Erion Veliaj is in prison.

But before Erion Veliaj was put in prison, was there rule of law?

Why didn't we see these writings?

According to the editor, we need to normalize pre-trial practices, ensure due process, and fully reinstate leader Veliaj.

To cry or to laugh?!

So, a man with 13 charges, who has been in court for 7 months and is not going to trial, should be reinstated in power and be assured of due process and judicial practices.

What is the proper process?

When the 60,000-page file is compiled, with all the accusations and taken to court by SPAK, and for 6-7 months the mayor of Tirana has not gone to appear in court, but has hired a bunch of lawyers and used 1001 schemes until finally the General Directorate of Prisons itself, a director from his party appointed by the SP Minister of Justice, denied it.

What is the pre-trial practice that justice should follow in Albania where the defendant does not go to court, but finds 1001 loopholes, instruments or ways to escape justice, following Ilir Meta behind to escape the process?

What practice?

Erion Veliaj, if he were fair and honest and uninvolved in these corrupt affairs that he is being accused of and very serious criminal files that include 13 charges, would have resigned as mayor, would have gone to the dock, would have massacred the prosecutors, would have won his innocence and the trial would have been over by now.

So why hasn't Erion Veliaj gone to court for 6-7 months? Why isn't he having a proper legal process?

So how can leader Veliaj be reinstated, where can he be reinstated? To be reinstated in the municipality to sign documents and payment orders so that the money goes to his wife? To bargain with various businessmen for villas, apartments or hidden and undeclared properties that prosecutors have secured for him?

What should he return for, according to the Israeli journalist who has been very concerned about Ilir Meta and then also about Erion Veliaj?

Such writings, in fact, show the misery to which our "Zdromsi", the journalist of the Veliaj family, Mero Baze, and the entire team of lawyers or people who support him to make propaganda, have descended.

Because more than an article on a portal in Israel or on another portal or page in Europe, it would be better to go to court, take the files forward, confront the prosecutors with the truth, and win Erion Veliaj's innocence.

Not to come around, as the people say, "like a p**** in a pair of pants", with procedures and technicalities, with writings and all kinds of schemes and not face justice.

Justice is there, the court is there, the prosecutor is there, the files are there with facts, evidence, and accusations.

Well, if they are men, let them come out and face justice, not make a circus that Albanians have already understood and are worthless. They simply hope that they will save the image and public morals of "Zdroms", a defendant with nine counts of corruption and other very serious criminal cases.

Therefore, it would be better if they went to court and didn't waste money on propaganda, because they can't escape punishment according to the law if they are guilty of such actions that in fact simply show where "Zdromsi" and its propaganda instruments have fallen./ CNA

The international media outlet "The Economist" in an article published on Thursday, August 7, titled "Albania's new anti-corruption unit is bringing down the powerful," focused on the work of SPAK and the impact that the arrests of high-ranking figures, including Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, have had on Albanian politics.

Among other things, the article criticized the work of the Special Prosecution Office, while also giving voice to Arbër Veliaj, Erion Veliaj's brother, who is under indictment by SPAK.

Writing in 'The Economist', August 7

Based on the published article, CNA sent a letter the following day, on August 8, to the editorial team of "The Economist" where, among other things, we asked two essential questions: Whether the article was a journalistic piece, or whether it was a sponsored or submitted opinion piece by an external party, i.e. an advertising article.

Email sent by CNA

"We have noted with concern that this article includes strong criticism of SPAK, while giving importance and space to individuals who are currently under indictment by the same institution, including the case of Arbër Veliaj."

Considering the sensitivity of the issue and the potential impact this article may have on public perception in our country, please let us know:

Is this article independently produced by one of your journalists?

"Or is it a sponsored or third-party submitted material (advertising article)?" the email sent by CNA to "The Economist"'s address read, among other things. 

Just a minute later, we received an automatic email from The Economist's system, which is sent to anyone who sends a letter to the international media's email address, asking us to specify whether or not our letter was for publication.

Automatic email from 'The Economist'

Although we were aware that their e-mail was automated, again for the sake of fairness we immediately informed them that it was not a letter from us for publication, but an e-mail sent to “The Economist”, where they were expecting a response to the two direct questions we posed to their editorial team regarding the article published on August 7th about the anti-corruption unit in Albania.

Request sent by CNA

A week has passed since the e-mail we sent to "The Economist" and as of the moment we are publishing the material this Thursday (August 14), we have still not received any response from the international media regarding the origin or nature of their article.

The lack of response from a prestigious media outlet like "The Economist" leads us to believe that this article was not a journalistic piece, but rather paid and submitted by an external party.

Despite the efforts in recent months to question the work and professionalism of SPAK, especially in the case of Veliaj, the prosecutors have shown integrity and have continued their investigations unaffected by the wishes or criticism of the media, Albanian and foreign, with or without payment, which have written in favor of Veliaj with the aim of pressuring the justice system to give a more lenient measure to the mayor of Tirana.

Together with SPAK, a series of judicial levels, up to the Supreme Court, have put Veliaj behind bars, proving that blackmail or sponsored articles no longer decide the justice of individuals or political figures who until yesterday were considered untouchable./CNA

An article published on August 7 in the international media outlet "The Economist" also mentioned the case of the arrested mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj.

Written on the day of publication, August 7, 2025

The article, titled "The new anti-corruption unit in Albania is bringing down the powerful," focused mainly on the work of SPAK and the cases under review by this structure that have shocked public opinion.

“Six months after his arrest, Mr. Veliaj remains behind bars; he was only formally indicted on July 23. This is normal in Albania, where 62% of those in prison are actually in pre-trial detention, a number much higher than anywhere else in Europe,” the article says, among other things.

But, these articles recently published in foreign media seem to be giving more weight to the articles published by Veliaj's media, which in one way or another are weaving scenarios of changing the security measures against the mayor who is in Durrës Prison.

Article in "The Economist", reposted, date 9.8.2025

CNA has previously reported on the veracity or independence of publications and articles in foreign media regarding this issue.

How far do the scenarios for the fate of Veliaj go, the process against which is mentioned in articles in international media, while the latter is accused of 4 serious criminal offenses: corruption, money laundering, failure to declare assets and bringing unauthorized items into the cell, with 13 charges in total.

Post reposted this Sunday

The article also highlighted the position of Arbër Veliaj, an accused by SPAK in the large investigative file of his brother, Erion Veliaj.

CNA has sent several questions to the editors of The Economist regarding this article. So far, no response has been received regarding this request for information.

Based on several cases from several articles, but also with the most recent article published this week, there are all suspicions that these articles are sponsored by people close to Veliaj or his lobbying studios./CNA

The international media outlet "The Economist", in an article published on Thursday, August 7, titled "Albania's new anti-corruption unit is bringing down the powerful", focused on the work of SPAK and the impact that the arrests of high-ranking figures, including the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, have had on Albanian politics.

Article from "The Economist"

Among other things, the article states: “ Six months after his arrest, Mr. Veliaj remains behind bars; he was only formally indicted on July 23. This is normal in Albania, where 62% of those in prison are actually in pre-trial detention, a number much higher than anywhere else in Europe .”

It should be noted that only 4% of the people currently in the cells are from SPAK, the rest are people arrested by the police at the request of the Prosecutor's Office of General Jurisdiction. Initially, the arrest is made by the police and within 48 hours they must be taken to court, the prosecutor's office must file charges and the court must make a decision. In total, according to official figures, 96% of the prisoners are not from SPAK, only 4% of the prisoners have been charged by the Special Prosecutor's Office, which shows that the 62% figure given in the article by "The Economist" is an abuse .

Secondly, it is strongly emphasized in articles in foreign media or in writings by journalists from the government's court about why Veliaj is in detention. When someone is at risk of destroying evidence if released, is corrupt, continues to corrupt, is accused of corruption, has a wide network of official influence, where should he go, still be left in office, sign and abuse?! That is why the law and the Criminal Code have it clearly defined. Change the parliamentary code and politics, say that those accused of theft and corruption should be prosecuted in a free state, continue their free lives because there is no problem.

The charges against Veliaj were notified after 6 months, within the full legal deadline, from the day the mayor of Tirana was arrested, according to the court's decision. What is most disgusting and monstrous is the commonly used phrase "SPAK arrests you and keeps you in prison" . SPAK neither arrests you nor keeps you in prison. Erion Veliaj was arrested by court decision and all levels of courts up to the Supreme Court have given the same measure. Prosecutors have requested the arrest, the court has said to arrest.

The measure was then assessed, and the decision to leave Veliaj in "prison custody" was deemed a regular measure. The case was then appealed to the Court of Appeal, where not only was he left in prison, but the Appeals Judge said that they should be investigated as a structured criminal group.

The case went to the Supreme Court and was not rejected as a recourse, but was heard and held a hearing. And in the end it was decided that Veliaj should be kept in prison. And it is the court that puts him in prison and not SPAK and its prosecutors.

Every day that Veliaj's trial is delayed is now the responsibility of his lawyers.

However, these writings seem to be part of the scenarios and games that seek to replace the security measure for Erion Veliaj.

But justice is not decided by the wishes or criticism of the media, with or without payment and the money that Erion Veliaj's brother, Arbër Veliaj, pours into the portals./CNA

Erion Veliaj

From a critical look at the EU Reporter article

On June 30, 2025, the international portal EU Reporter published an article with the title: ?Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana, held without charge for past five months.? At first glance, an ordinary news item.

Article by Eu Reporter

But careful reading reveals that we are dealing not with impartial reporting, but with a structured attempt to publicly rehabilitate the figure of a high-level official under criminal investigation.

The title that manipulates

The article opens with the claim that the mayor of Tirana is being held ?without charges,? when in fact Veliaj has been in pre-trial detention by court order since February 2025, on official charges filed by SPAK for corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office. This is not only an inaccuracy, but a deliberate deviation from the legal truth.

Emotional structure, not journalism

Instead of reporting on the facts, chronology and developments of the criminal case, the EU Reporter article begins with an emotional account of Veliaj?s mother and continues with glorifying descriptions of his figure, such as ?visionary leader? and ?committed public servant.? This is PR language, not editorial analysis.

Moreover, every other voice is missing. SPAK is not cited , no court decision is mentioned, and no concrete facts from the investigative file are mentioned. Instead of responsible journalism, the reader is faced with a portrait constructed to restore the image of a discredited politician.

Excerpt from the Eu Reporter article

Is this a sponsored article?

Not a single line of the article states whether it is sponsored or paid. But the content is completely consistent with what is called "native advertising" in the media world: paid content disguised as a regular news article. This is dangerous for the transparency and credibility of any media platform.

EU Reporter itself admits on its website that it offers sponsored content and PR services through "editorial partnerships" and "sponsorship packages." The lack of a "Sponsored" label in this case, coupled with propagandistic content, raises strong doubts about the publication's integrity.

Political context: Why now?

The publication of this article is not accidental. It comes at a critical moment, when the investigation against Veliaj includes serious accusations of multi-million dollar affairs in public tenders and money laundering with fictitious companies. The article does not aim to inform the international public, but to create an alternative narrative for Albania's external partners and global public opinion.

This is a well-known strategy in political communication: using foreign media to influence perception at home and abroad, by rehabilitating one's personal image through seemingly neutral channels.

Why is this a dangerous case?

This article is symptomatic of a broader problem: media outlets that allow their platform to be used for narrow political interests, without transparency and without respecting basic standards of good journalism.

The use of EU Reporter as a channel for a biased narrative in defense of an official arrested for corruption is a clear case of what is called "reputational laundering" - cleaning one's public image through the media.

If this trend spreads, then anyone accused of corruption will be able to buy an article on an international website, to present themselves as a victim. This undermines democracy, justice, and the very essence of journalism.

Can this be tolerated in the name of "freedom of the media"?

No. Media freedom also means responsibility, balance and transparency. When a media outlet uses its reputation to distribute paid content that is not identified as such, it loses credibility. And in the case of EU Reporter, it becomes complicit in distorting reality.

cONcluSiON

The EU Reporter article is not journalism. It is propaganda on an international scale. It is a case of the media being used as a political instrument. And for this, there must be public accountability.

In Albania, justice has taken an important step with the investigations of high-ranking officials. The media should not be an obstacle to this process, but an ally in protecting transparency.

The Albanian and international public deserves to know the truth. Not its paid versions./ CNA