The transfer of Erion Veliaj from pre-trial detention in Durrës to the institution in Fier has prompted an official reaction from a group of Tirana Municipality councillors, who are seeking clarification from the responsible institutions. In the letter addressed to the General Directorate of Prisons, the Ministry of Justice and the Ombudsman, they raise doubts about how the move was carried out and the consequences it could have both for Veliaj’s rights and for the functioning of the municipality.
Official letter on the reasons for the transfer
According to the request submitted by the councillors, the institutions must provide immediate transparency on the legal and factual reasons for the transfer of the Mayor of Tirana from Durrës to Fier.
The same document also requests verification of any possible restrictions that may affect his communication with family members and legal counsel. The councillors stress that the pre-trial detention measure should not be used as a justification for arbitrary restrictions or treatment incompatible with legal standards.
Claims of consequences for the exercise of his mandate
In their letter, the councillors argue that Veliaj remains the elected head of Tirana Municipality and that his mandate, in their view, has not been interrupted. For this reason, they request that the functioning of the institution not be harmed by the circumstances created after the transfer.
According to this position, his transfer to a facility farther from Tirana could create practical difficulties in communication, the administration of documentation and the exercise of powers related to running the municipality.
Request to verify conditions in Fier prison
The councillors also express concern over the detention conditions at the Fier institution, noting that serious circumstances have been reported which, in their view, require institutional verification.
They call for conditions to be guaranteed in accordance with legal and European standards, as well as an immediate assessment of Veliaj’s health needs. The letter underlines that no detainee should be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment.
Focus on the Ombudsman and institutional responsibility
The concern, according to the councillors, has also intensified after the Ombudsman’s visit to Fier prison, where issues were raised that, in their view, require immediate intervention.
The request calls on the Ombudsman to make public, within legal limits, the findings and recommendations of the inspection. The political and institutional message of the letter is clear: no privileges are being sought for Veliaj, but rather the implementation of the law, respect for human dignity and the avoidance of any unjustified obstacle to his rights.
The issue of the transfer is increasing public pressure on the penitentiary system and the Ministry of Justice, which, so far, are expected to provide clear explanations for the reasons behind the move and the detention standards.
In a case where pre-trial detention, the running of a local institution and claims of restrictions on rights intersect, transparency is not a political favor but an institutional obligation.