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Veliaj's mother, open letter on her son's imprisonment: Why is Europe turning a blind eye to a flagrant violation of the values ​​on which the EU was built?

2025-07-01 23:00:01Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Veliaj's mother, open letter on her son's imprisonment: Why is Europe
Erion Veliaj during arrest

"As an Albanian citizen, I want my country to treat people with justice. As Erion's mother, I want to know that my son will be treated with dignity." These words were written in an open letter by Shqiponja Veliaj, the mother of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who was arrested in February by SPAK on corruption charges.

In a letter published in the European media outlet EUReporter, Veliaj's mother says that he was arrested without evidence, based on anonymous allegations, which her son denies even after 5 months in solitary confinement in the Durrës detention center.

Expressing her family's support for SPAK, as an institution that has fought corruption, Shqiponja Veliaj writes in her public letter that no one should be held in prison without due process, without transparency, and without access to lawyers.

"Why is Europe turning a blind eye to a blatant violation of the values ​​on which the EU is built?" This is the question, in her letter, addressed to European leaders by the mother of Mayor Erion Velia.

Shqiponja Veliaj emphasizes that this approach is not about protecting her son from accountability, but about a phenomenon that affects many Albanians, according to her: "being locked up in detention for years without a final judicial decision, destroying lives and careers."

The European media outlet EuReporter writes that the decision to extend Erion Veliaj's detention was taken by the Special Court without an in-depth review of the need, extent or reasonableness of this detention, and without a serious assessment of the alternatives to it.

Full article:

Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has been in pre-trial detention for 5 months without any formal charges, while an investigation by SPAK continues. He was arrested by the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime in February, following allegations of corruption, which he denies. So far, no concrete evidence has been presented to him and no formal charges have been filed, yet Veliaj remains in pre-trial detention throughout this process.

His international lawyers, from the firms Mishcon de Reya and Kasowitz, have been denied the right to visit him.

The decision to extend his detention was taken by the Special Court without an in-depth examination of the necessity, extent or reasonableness of this detention, and without a serious assessment of the alternatives to it.

Although Erion Veliaj and his family express support for SPAK's mandate, his prolonged detention reflects a broader and worrying phenomenon in Albania: around 60% of pre-trial detainees in the country are held in prison without a final judicial decision.

Why is Europe turning a blind eye to a blatant violation of the values ​​on which the EU is built?

By Shqiponje Veliaj, mother of Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana

“About four months ago, my family was suddenly plunged into a Kafkaesque nightmare. On a seemingly ordinary day in February, my son, Erion, the three-time Mayor of Tirana, who has made an extraordinary contribution to the revitalization of the capital, was arrested by SPAK, the independent anti-corruption institution. The arrest was based on anonymous allegations made to the police by a fictitious person almost two years ago. Allegations that my son categorically denies.

Since that day, he has been held in conditions approaching complete isolation, although no formal charges have been brought against him. He has also been denied access to his international lawyers. His prolonged imprisonment prevents him from exercising his functions as Mayor, which were entrusted to him by the citizens of Tirana through a vote.

It is important to see the broader context. Albania is on track to become a member of the European Union, perhaps by 2030. As a proud Albanian, I see this as a great achievement for all of us. It will bring prosperity, more tourism and employment opportunities, and it will bring more stability and cooperation on security and defense issues.

One of the most important conditions for membership is the rule of law and the fight against corruption. It is no secret that Albania has had many problems to fix in this regard. I have seen Albania emerge from communism, from a period where people were disappeared by the state police and lived in fear.

The role of SPAK has been essential in fighting corruption, reforming the justice system, and improving the performance of the judiciary. But now it appears that SPAK is exercising broad power with very little oversight. My family fully supports the need to investigate any suspicion of mismanagement or corruption. Corruption in Albania must be fought directly, and the institutions that fight it must be strengthened. No one should be above the law, not my son, nor any other official.

But at the same time, no one, regardless of function, should be held in prison without charges, without due process, without transparency, and without access to lawyers.

Why then are EU institutions and member states turning a blind eye while one of the most visible and democratically elected figures in Albania is being held in prison without charge? Isn't this a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)?

My family is suffering greatly from this situation. But we are not alone. This arrest now and collect evidence later approach also happened to Thoma Gëllçi, and in his case the European Court of Human Rights ruled that his detention was unlawful. Thousands of Albanians are held in pre-trial detention, and the percentage of pre-trial detainees in prisons is much higher than the European average. Sometimes people are held for years. This characteristic of the Albanian judicial system destroys lives and careers. Anti-corruption bodies must operate with the highest investigative standards, avoiding theatrical arrests that could later be considered unlawful by the highest courts, if due process is not followed.

This is not what justice reform should represent. SPAK has made real progress, but that progress should be measured not just by arrests, but by fair trials, independent courts, and the protection of human rights.

Renowned civil rights lawyer and activist Dorian Matlija has put it succinctly: “In Albania, they put you in jail first, then they collect the evidence.” The system imprisons people, then tries to justify the decision. If the evidence is insufficient, courts often convict anyway, to justify months of detention.

European leaders should not remain silent just because on paper, Albania’s progress narrative looks good. Institutions can be created, laws can be written, but they must be implemented fairly. In this case, due process is being ignored. Rights are being violated. And the credibility of the Albanian judicial system is at risk.

This is not about protecting my son from accountability. He is just one of many individuals affected by this systemic problem in Albania. This is about protecting the fundamental principles that form the basis of democracy: the presumption of innocence, the right to liberty, the obligation to charge or acquit, and the humane treatment of all detainees, regardless of political affiliation.

"As an Albanian citizen, I want my country to treat people with justice. As Erion's mother, I want to know that my son will be treated with dignity."


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