From propaganda to disinformation: Erion Veliaj's fight with justice from prison

2025-02-24 20:46:00, Politikë CNA

From propaganda to disinformation: Erion Veliaj's fight with justice from

Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, arrested since February 10 by decision of the Special Court Against Organized Crime and Corruption (SCOC), published a photo on Monday, which he said was a facsimile of part of the debate between him and SPAK prosecutor Ols Dado in the courtroom.

According to the mayor, in the debate, the prosecution representative had described him as 'filth', claiming that prosecutor Dado was behaving towards him in the style of the former State Security, the secret police during the communist regime.

"This is one of the dialogues in Erion Kasapi's slaughterhouse," wrote Veliaj, referring to judge Erion Bani, while adding: "Read what language the SPAK prosecutor speaks, so low that even Erion Kasapi seems a gentleman in front of him!"

"This language and atmosphere, as if the security guards have returned from the window after we kicked them out the door, should no longer be tolerated," the mayor stressed.

Erion Veliaj's post, like other daily posts under his name from the cell, was republished by a multitude of online and television media outlets without verification, while left-wing analysts and supporters of the mayor expressed outrage at the prosecutor's alleged behavior.

There was only one problem with this storm in a teacup. According to the GJKKO and SPAK, the transcript published by Veliaj is false.

"The part of the minutes published by the person under investigation, Erion Veliaj, on his social network 'Facebook' is untrue," the GJKKO stated in response to questions from BIRN. The court said it verified the audio and found no use of the word "filth".

SPAK also reacted by publishing facsimiles of the official trial transcript and denied the prosecutor's use of the insult. When asked by BIRN, Veliaj's lawyer, Ermir Beta, said he found it difficult to be precise about the terms used in the hearing.

Monday's post by Erion Veliaj is not his first statement from prison. It is just the latest act in a massive propaganda and disinformation campaign by the mayor against prosecutor Ols Dado and judge Erion Bani, which aims to discredit and pressure SPAK.

"It is a manifestation of the power of political power over justice that is not the first time we have seen," said writer Fatos Lubonja, adding with regret that in the past, politics has won in the confrontation between these two powers.

"I hope that justice prevails this time, but for this to happen, a strong reaction from the entire society is needed," Lubonja added.

The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, is accused of having, together with his wife Ajola Xoxa, built a complex corrupt mechanism to embezzle public funds, which were transferred in the form of bribes from contracting companies and NGOs benefiting from Tirana Municipality funds. Veliaj and Xoxa have denied the charges, while portraying themselves as politically persecuted by SPAK prosecutor Ols Dado.

Lubonja analyzed that Veliaj's daily attacks from the cell and the attempt to impose lies as truth are encouraged by similar attacks by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

"Veliaj, in his attacks from inside prison, with an arrogance where lies seek to be imposed as truth, is encouraged by Edi Rama's attacks in the same style from outside," he said.

Meanwhile, Rigels Xhemollari from the organization Qëndresa Qytetare says that this is a desperate attempt to discredit the figure of the prosecutor in the case, but that according to him it has failed and that makes Veliaj's other arguments unbelievable.

"The transformation of statements damages not only the process, but also the public's trust in every argument that is built from this moment on by Mr. Veliaj," said Xhemollari, adding that it was not the first time that Veliaj was caught telling untruths.

According to Xhemollari, this was not new behavior from the socialist mayor.

“Not behavior, but a model built by him in Albanian politics, on slander and alienation,” he said. “From the demolition of the theater, promises not to build and concrete, or even the campaign with trees and international awards,” Xhemollari added.

Lawyer Gentian Serjani also said that Veliaj was not credible in his statements.

“Veliaj's credibility has been declining for a long time,” Serjani said. “I am also referring to the moment of his arrest, while the media was chronicling his meeting with children,” he added.

Serjani argued that the attack on justice should be taken seriously and that measures should be taken.

"Veliaj's lynching and threats against the prosecutor are unprecedented," said Serjani, adding that measures should be taken against him for this. "Veliaj, with this model he created, gave criminals the opportunity to blackmail and threaten every prosecutor in the Republic of Albania," he concluded./ Reporter.al