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2026-10-12 20:27:00Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

 

The case of the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, has been included in the fourth monitoring report on the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Albania, drafted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The document raises concerns regarding the fact that Albania ranks among the countries with the highest levels of pre-trial detention in Europe, while also pointing out the consequences that the prolonged detention of a mayor may have on the exercise of local government functions.

The report was submitted to Congress on October 7 and is expected to be approved on October 27.

It describes the institutional developments related to Veliaj's case, from his dismissal from the Tirana Municipal Council and the cancellation of the early elections, to his reinstatement to office by decision of the Constitutional Court, while the mayor continues to remain in detention.

"In September 2025, the Tirana Municipal Council voted to dismiss the mayor from office due to his absence from work for more than 3 months. Based on this, the government issued a dismissal decree and a presidential decree was issued to hold early elections in Tirana," the report states.

Further, the document highlights the intervention of the Constitutional Court, which in November 2025 decided to reinstate Veliaj and cancel the early elections in the capital.

"However, in November 2025, the Constitutional Court of Albania reinstated Erion Veliaj as mayor, declaring his dismissal unconstitutional and annulling the early elections in the capital. In practice, Mr. Veliaj is unable to exercise his duties as mayor, as he continues to be held in detention," the document states.

The rapporteurs clarify that commenting on criminal proceedings that are still ongoing is not included in the scope of the report.

However, they highlight the general problem related to the use and duration of pre-trial detention in Albania.

“The rapporteurs consider it outside the scope of this report to comment on ongoing criminal proceedings. As a general observation, they would only like to point out that Albania ranks among the countries with the highest levels of pre-trial detention in Europe, as well as with a relatively long average duration of pre-trial detention,” the report states.

The document also refers to the Venice Commission report on the impact of the detention of mayors on the exercise of democratic local governance.

According to the rapporteurs, this issue requires special attention, as it affects not only the individual rights of elected officials, but also the rights of the citizens who have given them their mandate through voting.

"The Venice Commission's report on the impact of the detention of mayors on the exercise of democratic local governance has emphasized that the prolonged detention of mayors should be treated with particular care, as it may call into question both the individual rights of mayors under the ECHR, as well as the rights of the voters who elected them," the document further states.

Through this assessment, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe places the case of Tirana in the broader context of the functioning of local self-government and the impact that detention measures can have on the exercise of a mandate won through democratic elections.


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