Balliu: The family of Erion Veliaj threatens the Dutch journalist after articles published about the criminal scheme and money laundering

The regional coordinator for Tirana in the Democratic Party, Klevis Balliu, made a statement to the media today, where he said that PD Dutch activist Vincent Van Gerven Oei was threatened by the mayor Erion Veliaj.

Balliu said that the threat from people close to Veliaj's family against the Dutch activist comes after a series of investigative articles published on his blog and translated into Albanian by several portals.

According to Balli, the activist has published the threatening messages, which are directly related to the published articles, and which expose the anti-legal activity and against the public interest of Veliaj & CO. 

STATEMENT OF THE REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR TIRANA IN DP, KLEVIS BALLIU:

The Democratic Party condemns the threat of the Dutch activist Vincent Van Gerven Oei by the thugs of Erion Veliajt.
Expressing support to Mr. Gevren Oei for civic and intellectual courage, on this occasion we express our unconditional support for all those free voices of the press in Albania, who every day, despite threats and temptations, unmask the power of Edi Rama and Erion Veliaj.  The threat from people close to the Veliaj mafia family of the Dutch activist comes after a series of investigative articles published on his blog and also translated into Albanian by several portals.  The activist has published the threatening messages, which are directly related to the published articles, and which expose the anti-legal activity and against the public interest of Veliaj & CO.

The Dutch embassy has made a note of protest against Albania and has informed by email all accredited embassies in Tirana regarding this case.

What is ironic in this case is that the Mjaft movement, which was led by Veliaj before joining the SP and Rilindja, has given millions of euros to this organization, with the aim of unmasking the "old politics", civic activism and the protection of the freedom of expression. Today, Erion Veliaj, after having made a hundred of those millions in power, turns against the donors and against the ideas for which he received that money.  On this occasion, we call on foreign embassies to be careful who they support.

But what is at the center of the fury of Veliaj and the gang and the threats against the Dutch blogger?  Mr. Van Oei throughout 2024 has conducted an in-depth and serious research, bringing to light the criminal money laundering scheme of Erion Veliaj through his wife and the "Harabel" foundation.  Harabel" is a semi-non-profit foundation that "focuses on the promotion of contemporary art". It was founded in 2018 by artist Driant Zeneli and "cultural promoter" Ajola Xoxa, Veliaj's wife.

Harabel, immediately after its establishment, launched a series of high-profile art projects, with internationally known artists such as Anri Sala (also on the board of Harabel), Adrian Paci and Sislej Xhafa.  The official address of 'Harabel' is in Sky Tower, in the heart of the expensive area of ​​Tirana Block, in the same building as Ajola Xoxa's company 'The Partners'.  'Harabel' is inextricably linked to the interests of Erion Veliaj's wife and served as a cover that allowed Xoxa to act as a 'cultural promoter' and Veliaj to launder the money.

This scheme establishes the direct connection of the chief thief of Tirana with the incinerators, since the wife's foundation has also worked with the incinerator companies.  This is not Veliaj's first threat to journalists. In this plan, he is a recidivist. We recall the threats against journalists Ola Xama and Beti Njuma, as among the harshest and most recent.  SPAK has started the property investigation for Veliaj after the investigation of the Dutch blogger, but let's not hold our breath for the mayor's 'colleagues'. Let 's rise together to save our city and our country from the clutches of the killers of Albania's development and future.