New details have emerged regarding the hospitalization of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. It is learned that the mayor broke his leg during a football match in the air conditioning facilities of the Durrës detention center.
It is learned that the incident occurred about two weeks ago and Veliaj went to a private hospital in Tirana to have an X-ray and to have his leg put in a cast, where it turned out that he had broken his leg.
It remains to be seen whether Veliaj will undergo surgery or have a simple procedure.
This is not the first time that Veliaj has been transported to a hospital while in prison. A few months ago, he underwent surgery to remove warts and was returned to his cell a few hours later, escorted by a large police force.
Erion Veliaj has been in custody since February 10, 2025. The first citizen of Tirana is accused of committing the criminal offense of “Passive corruption of high-ranking state officials or local elected officials”, committed in collaboration (9 times) and “Laundering the proceeds of a criminal offense or criminal activity”.
The investigations, according to SPAK, are related to several suspected episodes of corruption and irregular benefits, which allegedly involved companies that received construction permits or public funds from the Municipality of Tirana.
He is accused, together with his wife Ajola Xoxa, of building a complex corrupt mechanism to embezzle public funds, which were transferred in the form of bribes from contracting companies and NGOs benefiting from Tirana Municipality funds.