#USA #New York #Erion Veliaj #Kasowitz LLP #Mishcon de Reya

Updated Report on Erion Veliaj's Political Persecution

Kasowitz LLP, based in New York, alongside London's Mishcon de Reya LLP, has released an updated report entitled "Report Regarding the Political Persecution of Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana". This report acts as a follow-up to their previous publication from June 24, 2025, detailing the unjust detention of Veliaj, a democratically elected official in Albania's capital.

The updated findings delve into the apparent political motives behind the actions taken by the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) against Mayor Veliaj. Critical sequences of events within just eight months reveal the unmistakable impression that Veliaj's prosecution by SPAK is not a standard legal action. As noted in the report, Mayor Veliaj has been incarcerated since February, despite no evidence of flight risk or potential interference with SPAK's ongoing investigation.

One of the report's striking points is the stark disparity in how Veliaj has been treated in comparison to 17 other individuals implicated in the same case, all of whom were granted bail under minimal conditions. The denial of bail for Veliaj raises questions about the motives of the Albanian authorities regarding his treatment.

The report also asserts that recent political developments have heightened concerns about the legitimacy of the proceedings against Mayor Veliaj, suggesting that they represent a deliberate attempt to unseat him from his elected position in violation of the Albanian Constitution. Notably, in September, the Tirana City Council moved to dismiss Mayor Veliaj, citing his involuntary detention as grounds for removal. This decision, followed by the President's announcement of upcoming elections to fill Veliaj's role, casts serious doubt on the integrity of the process, implying that the pretext for his detention serves as a mechanism to improperly strip him and, by extension, the citizens of Tirana, of their right to self-governance.

While Albania's Constitutional Court has temporarily halted these actions pending an appeal filed by Veliaj against the City Council's decision, the updated report scrutinizes the implications of this constitutional crisis. It argues that the unfolding events surrounding Mayor Veliaj's case starkly challenge Albania's commitment to due process.

Essentially, the maneuvers to depose Mayor Veliaj destroy the presumption of innocence he is entitled to and have unjustly stripped him of his freedom and office long before his trial has commenced. This troubling scenario highlights the precarious state of political stability in Albania and prompts a reevaluation of how justice is administered.

In light of these findings, the updated Veliaj report calls for an immediate reassessment of the situation and urges concerned parties to advocate for the rule of law in Albania. A detailed copy of the updated report is available for review at the respective law firms’ public relations channels.

For further inquiries about the report, interested individuals can contact Shannon O'Reilly at Kasowitz LLP.

The Kasowitz team includes partners Daniel J. Fetterman and Brian S. Choi, alongside Senior Counsel Clarine Nardi Riddle and Special Counsel David Miller in Washington, D.C. Mishcon de Reya’s team comprises partners James Libson and Ben Brandon, along with associate Celia Marr and staff members Grace Houghton and Elizabeth Fitton.