In a statement, Veliaj said he was deeply shaken by the decision regarding the four former KLA leaders, but he emphasized that the legal process must still follow proper judicial standards.

On September 16, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague handed four former KLA leaders a combined 81 years in prison for war crimes. Hashim Thaçi and Jakup Krasniqi received 25 years each, Kadri Veseli 18 years and Rexhep Selimi 13 years. As this is a first-instance ruling, the defense plans to appeal.

Veliaj emphasized that honoring the four former KLA leaders is strictly an expression of gratitude for their historic role in Kosovo’s independence, not a political move to influence the court or substitute justice.

“Therefore, in my capacity as Mayor of Tirana, I will propose to the City Council that Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi, and Rexhep Selimi be named Honorary Citizens of Tirana,” stated Veliaj.

He also called upon the mayors and city councils of other Albanian cities to undertake similar initiatives, emphasizing the importance of preserving the historical memory of Kosovo and its struggle for freedom. /p.s./

In a statement in the social media, Rama noted that Tirana is without a functioning mayor again, as he remains jailed without trial despite a Constitutional Court ruling protecting his position.

However, according to PM Rama, court decisions demand our respect. “I always follow this principle and refrain from commenting on any ruling before it becomes final,” he added.

Yet, Rama stated that Erion Veliaj’s case is unprecedented in democratic Europe. Holding an elected official indefinitely without evidence of extreme danger is alarming enough—but it also reveals a much darker reality.

“No one seems to care about the soaring costs crushing our capital, which has been effectively leaderless for nearly two years. Nearly a million residents are left paying the daily price for this reckless legal, social, and economic experiment,” stated Rama. /p.s./

According to the report of the Municipality of Tirana, Veliaj has accepted the resignations of Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani, Secretary General Eldi Hoxha and Chief of Staff Blerina Beshku.

The mayor has signed the payroll of the municipality’s employees within an hour after getting it.

While in detention, Veliaj has also approved additional funding for the capital’s nurseries and kindergartens to ensure their continued operation.

Another decision he approved is related to public transport. The Municipality of Tirana said that the mayor has also approved funds for the continuation of free public transport passes for Tirana pensioners. /k.s/r.e/p.s./

Media report that Veliaj signed an order revoking the temporary delegation of mayoral duties in Tirana.

Under the new order, which repeals the prior act, Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani no longer exercises the delegated powers of the Mayor of Tirana.

The order justifies this by noting that the elected Mayor of Tirana’s mandate remains legally valid, as confirmed by two Constitutional Court rulings. The Court’s latest decision establishes a new framework for the municipality, requiring all delegated powers to align fully with the elected Mayor’s authority.

/e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Judge Etleva Deda delivered the ruling today in a hearing attended only by the defendant’s counsel Valentina Teodorescu, as reported by media outlets.

Veliaj’s defense opposed the process, claiming that he had been denied the right to an effective defense and that around 60 thousand pages of investigative materials had not been analyzed.

According to SPAK, Veliaj faces 13 charges such as passive corruption in 9 cases, money laundering, failure to declare assets, abuse of office and bringing items into prison.

Veliaj has been in pre-trial detention in prison for a year. He was detained on February 10, 2025. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Veliaj’s request was reviewed by Judge Etleva Deda and the mayor himself was present during the session.

After the session ended, lawyer Sokrat Gjermeni stated that the mayor’s request also carried options like wealth guarantee or a ban on leaving the country.

According to him, the prosecution maintained the stance of keeping in force the measure of arrest in prison because evidence can be manipulated.

“But, the investigation process has been completed and the file has been sent to court. The evidence, especially the evidence in writing, cannot be manipulated”, argued Gjermeni.

According to SPAK, Veliaj faces 13 charges such as passive corruption in 9 cases, money laundering, failure to declare assets, abuse of office and bringing items into prison. His wife Ajola Xoxa has also been sent for trial. Veliaj has been in prison for almost a year. He was arrested on February 10, 2025. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Veliaj said that he has appeared in front of the Constitutional Court after a long and disappointing saga being kidnapped from the office where the citizens elected him and locked in a cell with a regime of imprisonment or escort more severe than that of a serial killer.

“Today, I have more police officers to guard me in the court, than lawyers. You have the evidence here in this hall. I have experienced a long period filled with violations of my rights as a citizen of this republic, but above all a denigration and attempt to silence the voice of a person elected three times in a row by the citizens of Tirana,” said Veliaj.

Veliaj reminded that there were the citizens of Tirana who trusted him with 160 thousand free votes and he was elected by these citizens for three consecutive terms.

“I am not here to defend myself, because I have not committed any violation, but I am respectfully requesting that we together defend the democracy that is being put to the test today,” Veliaj asserted.

According to Veliaj, no one can terminate the mandate of an elected official before the deadline, except when he has committed serious violations of the Constitution or the law.

“This session is not examining a job. This is a historic session that examines the foundations of democracy,” Veliaj asserted.

“You can imprison a person, but not the truth. The truth is that my absence was not a choice, so I did not choose to kidnap myself, to self-isolate and self-intern myself in the city of Durrës in a prison in a swamp, but a consequence of an isolation imposed by the state, through a disproportionate decision by anonymous letters and persecutory zeal that deprived me not only of my freedom and family, but also of my city,” Veliaj said.

“This insult came from my colleagues, who did not deign to listen to me or invite me. The injustice of dismissal does not make our country more just, because that is why we ended up in the Constitutional Court. Today, I convey a message of uncertainty towards anyone who could be targeted for political reasons tomorrow,” Veliaj asserted. /e.i/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The former mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, left the detention facilities in Durrës and arrived at the premises of the Constitutional Court at around 09:35. The session is scheduled to start at 10:00

On September 25, the government dismissed Veliaj after the proposal of the Municipal Council, relying on the law on local government, with the argument that he has not appeared in office for 3 months.

On October 1, President Bajram Begaj decreed partial by-elections for Tirana as well, which were suspended by temporary decision by the Constitutional Court until the final review of Veliaj’s dismissal.

Veliaj has been in detention since February 10, following the decision of the Special Court for the security measure “arrest in prison”. Veliaj is accused in 9 cases of passive corruption. He is also accused of money laundering, failure to declare assets, abuse of office and bringing illegal items into prison. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Veliaj’s dismissal from the government was made upon the proposal of the Minister of State for Local Government, based on Article 100 of the Constitution and letter “c” of Article 62 of the Law “On Local Self-Government”, which provides for the dismissal of a mayor if he is absent from work for more than three months without interruption.

This decision enters into force upon publication in the “Official Gazette”.

Two days ago, on September 23, Tirana municipal council approved the proposal to dismiss the Mayor of the capital Erion Veliaj, who has been in detention since February 10 of the current year.

The municipal council voted by 50 votes in favor of approving the proposal to dismiss Veliaj from office.

Today’s decision to dismiss Veliaj paves the way for early by-elections in Tirana, for which Prime Minister Edi Rama said that preparations have already begun. Rama has proposed Ogerta Manastirliu as a candidate to run for mayor of Tirana.

Veliaj has 15 days to appeal the decision to the Constitutional Court. /r.e/p.s./

During today’s meeting, the Municipal Council voted in favor of approving the proposal for the dismissal of Veliaj.

The request for the dismissal of Mayor Veliaj was filed by the socialist members of the Municipal Council based on Article 62 of the law “On Local Self-Government”, which provides for the dismissal of a mayor if he is absent from duty for more than three months without interruption.

Opposition members in the Municipal Council expressed that this decision should not have been made without first hearing Mayor Veliaj himself.

Today’s decision to dismiss Veliaj paves the way for early elections in Tirana. The socialist majority has presented the name of Ogerta Manastirliu as the Socialist Party candidate in the elections for the municipality of Tirana.

While forwarding Manastirliu as a candidate during the meeting of the National Assembly of the Socialist Party, PM Rama appreciated the situation in the capital as an emergency, after 7 months of absence of the elected mayor Erion Veliaj, who has been in detention since February 10, 2025. Mayor Erion Veliaj is accused by SPAK of 13 charges, including 9 corruption cases. /k.s//a.f/p.s./