The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) has issued an official statement regarding the arrest of the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. According to the statement, Veliaj is charged with the criminal offenses of “passive corruption of senior state officials or local elected representatives” in nine instances, as well as “money laundering from criminal activities.”
SPAK’s Full Statement:
The Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime has opened criminal case No. 27 of 2024, covering the following offenses: “Passive corruption of senior state officials or local elected representatives,” “Active corruption of senior state officials or local elected representatives,” “Money laundering from criminal activities,” “Failure to declare, non-declaration, concealment, or false declaration of assets and private interests by elected officials and public employees,” “False declarations before judicial police officers,” and “Actions that hinder the discovery of the truth,” as provided by articles 260, 245, 287/2, 257/a/2, 305/b, and 301 of the Penal Code.
Following investigative actions, on January 24, 2025, at the request of the Special Prosecution, the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, in Decision No. 7 of February 9, 2025, decided on the following precautionary measures:
- Arrest in prison for Erion Veliaj (Mayor of Tirana), who is suspected of “passive corruption of senior state officials or local elected representatives,” in cooperation (9 times) and “money laundering from criminal activities.”
- House arrest for A. X. (Veliaj’s spouse), suspected of the same offenses as Veliaj, including “failure to declare assets” and “false declarations.”
- Arrest in prison for an individual suspected of “money laundering from criminal activities,” linked to a business entity tied to the case.
- Obligation to appear before judicial police for several other individuals suspected of active corruption and involvement in these criminal acts, including representatives of commercial and non-profit entities.
According to the evidence gathered, Veliaj, together with his wife, A. X., allegedly created a corrupt network for the illicit acquisition of public funds managed by the Municipality of Tirana. These funds were funneled through businesses and organizations controlled by them, leading to the personal enrichment of their family, including through fictitious transactions and money laundering practices.
The case suggests a system of corruption and public fund misappropriation orchestrated over time, with the mayor’s signature being central to the distribution of public resources.
The authorities believe that public funds were funneled through entities controlled by A. X., with the goal of enriching Veliaj’s family. They further suspect that these funds were then integrated into the banking system, making the illicit profits harder to trace, thus fulfilling the criteria of money laundering.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details will follow as the case develops.
