Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj uses AI avatar to govern from prison

Erion Veliaj, the Mayor of Tirana, is using artificial intelligence to communicate with citizens while serving time in Durrës Prison. Veliaj, 46, has been detained since early 2025 facing 13 charges, including corruption and money laundering, though he denies all wrongdoing.

In a recent Instagram video, an AI-generated avatar of Veliaj appeared before the Albanian flag to address the public. In the video, the digital likeness announced a commitment to providing free school meals for all children in the capital, stating, “I will keep this promise, even from this cell where they have imprisoned me.”

Veliaj remains the official mayor of Tirana until the elections in the first half of 2027, following a Constitutional Court decision to cancel previously announced snap elections. His use of AI follows a global trend of political figures using deepfake technology to maintain a public presence while incarcerated, similar to previous instances involving leaders in Pakistan and Brazil.