Albania’s General Directorate of Prisons has issued an unusual public response over the transfer of Erion Veliaj from pretrial detention in Durrës to IEVP Fier, insisting that the procedure was carried out lawfully. But the key element in the case — the order authorizing the move — remains classified as a “state secret” under the official version, keeping it out of public scrutiny.
Official response after debate over the transfer
In its statement, the Prisons Directorate said it was compelled to issue a public clarification after media uproar surrounding the transfer of the Mayor of Tirana from Durrës to Fier.
According to the institution, the relocation of detainee E.V. was carried out as part of measures for the security and smooth operation of institutions for the execution of criminal decisions. However, the specific reasons that made this particular transfer necessary have not been made public.
What prison authorities say about the procedure
The Directorate says that after arriving in Fier on October 28, 2026, Veliaj was placed in the admission and observation section, in implementation of Article 38 of Law No. 81/2020 and Article 15 of the General Prison Regulations.
One day later, according to the statement, the responsible structures of IEVP Fier held a meeting with the detainee, heard his claims, and provided explanations about his rights and obligations during his stay at the institution. This was followed by his full placement, in line with the individual assessment and the relevant procedures.
The order is not published: classified as a secret document
The most sensitive part of the response concerns the transfer order. According to the Prisons Directorate, this act was approved in line with standard procedures, but it is part of the list of documents classified as a “state secret.”
As a result, according to the institution, its handling and disclosure are subject to the restrictions provided for in Law No. 10/2023 on classified information and the relevant by-laws. This means the public has no access to the document on which the decision was based.
Administrative discretion and 24 transfers in a few days
The Prisons Directorate says that, based on the law and regulations, a transfer order for any justified reason is issued by the General Director of Prisons. Under this official interpretation, the assessment and decision-making on the transfer fall within his competence and administrative discretion.
In the same response, the institution said that 24 transfers were carried out within the prison system from October 16 to October 27, 2026. It also said that the prosecution body was notified in Veliaj’s case as well, in accordance with the legislation in force.
The official response seeks to close the debate with legal references and the argument that the document is classified, but without shedding light on the specific reasons that led to Veliaj’s transfer from Durrës to Fier.
It is precisely the lack of transparency over the order, and the reliance on the formula of “state secret,” that leaves the issue open to public questions, even as the institution insists everything was done within the rules.