Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has renewed calls for the release of Tirana’s mayor, Erion Veliaj, who has been held in pre-trial detention for almost a year.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the end-of-year period, Rama urged justice institutions to allow Mr Veliaj to return to office, arguing that the prolonged detention is creating a serious governance vacuum in the capital.
Veliaj, a senior Socialist Party figure, was arrested in his office on 10 February 2025 on several serious criminal charges, along with his wife, Ajola Xoxa, and other alleged collaborators. He denies the allegations.
The prime minister said that after nearly 12 months in detention, Tirana remains unable to hold early elections, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court that the capital already has a mayor.
“Tirana has a mayor, but where is he?” Mr Rama said, adding that Mr Veliaj should be allowed to carry out his duties and, if later found guilty, serve any sentence imposed by the courts.
He criticised what he described as excessive use of pre-trial detention and raised concerns over investigative practices, including repeated house searches related to events dating back several years.
“These are serious problems that must be addressed,” Mr Rama said, stressing that suspects should be investigated and tried within reasonable timeframes.
The Constitutional Court previously overturned a presidential decree calling early elections in Tirana, citing the continued legal status of the incumbent mayor.
The case has reignited debate in Albania over the use of pre-trial detention and the balance between judicial independence and the functioning of elected institutions.