File heading to Strasbourg, English lawyers meet Erion Veliaj in detention, SPAK and BKH raid the Municipality of Tirana, “on the spot” the mayor’s trips and per diems
In the Durrës prison where he has been isolated for a year and a half, the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, received yesterday for 5 hours two British lawyers from the international studio “Mishcon de Reya”, Ben Brandon and Celia Marr. This was the first meeting between them, even though the foreign defenders had been requesting permission from the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) for months to talk with their client, while at the exit lawyer Brandon expressed his conviction that in the end Veliaj will regain his freedom in the European Court of Human Rights.
“We discussed the application we intend to file with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, regarding his detention and the continuation of this security measure. We hope that the procedures will proceed as quickly as possible, so that he can be released and continue his family life and function as mayor of Tirana,” said Ben Brandon. Plarent Ndreca, Veliaj’s lawyer who accompanied the foreigners, said that the appeal in Strasbourg will aim to appeal those requests that were rejected in the Constitutional Court.
Ndreca said that within September they will have the appeal for the security measure ready. “Colleagues from England are being allowed for the first time after months of continuous requests. Although no circumstances have changed, it has been made possible for part of the foreign team to come and visit Velijan. The American team has not been allowed yet. The meeting is related to the application that we will make in Strasbourg regarding the security measure.
We won a victory in the Constitutional Court that returned the security measure to the Supreme Court. Not all points have been accepted, and for these points we will go to Strasbourg. Veliaj’s condition is very good, he is clear about the case and the battle he has fought and is waiting for. The case in Strasbourg must be filed within 4 months, I believe we will do it very soon, in September”, said Ndreca.
Movement
Ndreca once again warned of an appeal against the decision of the Administrative Court that rejected Veliaj’s request for the legality of the appointment of Ols Dada as prosecutor. “Regarding the appointment of Dada, we have made it clear that we will appeal the decision, which did not allow us to be legitimized. It is an avoidance of judgment, but it is in the interest of every citizen of the Republic of Albania to know whether a prosecutor in SPAK is legally appointed or not. This issue will continue until we get the right, just as we got it when we insisted.
We received the files, we raised the issue of non-communication with foreign lawyers, it took a long time but we received communication with foreign lawyers. We are convinced that this process started early, through a report from an anonymous person. What needs to be said and we will repeat it, is that we will pursue any type of legal complaint to bring the matter to the end”, emphasized Ndreca.
Veliaj’s American team of lawyers was absent from the Durrës prison, who, unlike the British, have not yet received permission from the prosecution to meet their client. Veliaj’s defense is preparing the file for Strasbourg, after the Constitutional Court on May 25 ruled in favor of the security measure, returning the case once again to the High Court for review. The Constitutional Court ruled 5 to 3 in favor of Veliaj, ordering the High Court to argue why it did not accept the mayor’s requests for the disproportionate security measure and the confinement in a glass cage during court hearings.
Controls
On the other hand, SPAK conducted inspections yesterday at the premises of the Municipality of Tirana as part of the investigations into the “Veliaj 2” file. BKH investigators have seized documents related to Erion Veliaj’s official trips and per diems, which will be subject to analysis as part of the investigative actions.