Veliaj's supporters, 'anti-meeting' at SPAK against his arrest

Hundreds of Socialist Party supporters gathered on Wednesday morning at the railings of the Special Court, protesting against the arrest of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who was arrested on Monday by decision of the Special Court for the criminal offense of passive corruption and laundering of the proceeds of crime.

With banners in their hands showing public buildings in the capital, supporters had gathered before the start of the hearing to verify the personal security measures imposed on Erjon Veliaj, his wife, Ajola Xoxa, and six businessmen, shouting in unison "lali, lali, lali".

The eight suspects are accused of creating a corrupt scheme between companies and NGOs linked to Veliaj's wife, Ajola Xoxa, and the group of businessmen close to him, who are part of the investigation, with a transaction value of more than 1 million euros.

Moments before the start of the session, scheduled for 8:30, there was a power outage in the Special Structure premises. However, the session took place and was interrupted around 9:30 at the request of the defense lawyers of the suspects, who asked for time to familiarize themselves with the file data, to resume at 1:30.

Seemingly well-organized, protesters blocked a segment of Jordan Misja Street.

"I'm here for Erion Veliaj's works, they speak for themselves. They don't need comment," said a protester holding two banners, one of which featured the new Theater project.

“I support him for the good work he has done so far,” another protester who introduced himself as a pensioner told BIRN.

Another person present at the gathering expressed dissatisfaction that others who should have been in the cell were "eating and drinking."

"Here people are convicted only on reasonable suspicion. This country has had 34 years of transition and those who should have been caught have not been caught. ... I am a supporter with logic, I am not a supporter like that, stupid," he said.

For about an hour, Veliaj's supporters blocked a segment of the highway, impeding vehicle traffic, while the State Police officers present seemed powerless to establish order.

"Come on guys, come on guys," one of the attendees called out several times to the protesters, who were standing at a distance, asking them to approach the SPAK railings.

At around 09:10, the State Police were at the disposal of the protesters, stopping traffic on the section of the road where they were located. The Tirana Police Department did not respond until the publication of this article whether the protesters had received permission to hold the rally or the reason for stopping traffic on the section of the road blocked by Veliaj's supporters.

When the court decided at around 09:30 to adjourn the session to give the suspects and their defense attorneys time to familiarize themselves with the file, the group of protesters immediately dispersed.

For two days, Veliaj has received support from Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has not spared attacks from the judge in the case and SPAK prosecutors. Rama also stated that he will not dismiss Veliaj and described the accusations against him as a "detective novel."

Civil society representatives view with concern the government's support for Veliaj while he is accused of corruption.

"Those who should have come out to protest against thefts, today came out for those accused of theft! Corruption in Albania is no longer a phenomenon but has become a standard and culture and eradicating it takes time and there is a heavy bill that must be paid," said Qëndresa Kyyetare in a status.

"Today, employees of the Tirana Municipality administration protested in front of SPAK against the trial of Erion Veliaj. Among the protesters were also Municipal Police officers, who protested in front of their law enforcement colleagues," the organization added.

Erion Veliaj, 45, was seen within the Socialist Party as Prime Minister Edi Rama's "dolphin" and a possible successor, before his political figure was tarnished by accusations over the Tirana incinerator affair or a corruption scheme involving the directors of his Municipality, known as the 5D file./ BIRN