Erion Veliaj: Albanian Supreme Court upholds detention of Tirana Mayor

The Albanian Supreme Court has upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, a decision that has drawn scrutiny regarding the country's rule of law and its impact on regional geopolitics. The ruling by the Supreme Court on September 15 contradicts a previous decision by the Albanian Constitutional Court, which had deemed Veliaj’s detention “disproportionate” and his removal from office unconstitutional.

Veliaj was placed under pretrial detention on February 10, 2025, following orders from SPAK, the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime. SPAK is an institution supported by European Union funding intended to facilitate Albania’s accession to the EU, a process for which Italy has acted as a guarantor.

The case has raised concerns about the potential political use of justice and the abuse of precautionary measures in Albania. The legal proceedings involve corruption allegations and specific scrutiny regarding Veliaj’s failure to register under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) through a law firm associated with his defense.