Minister of Justice, Toni Gogu, has admitted that he met with Erjon Veliaj in Fier prison, but expressed surprise at the version that the mayor's lawyer, Plarent Ndreca, has distributed in the media.
"Yes, I met Erion Veliaj on Friday. In the exercise of my responsibilities as Minister of Justice, I went to familiarize myself with the conditions of his treatment and to listen to the complaints publicly expressed by his lawyer," Gogu wrote in a message on social networks.
But according to him, what has been reported in the media about a message from Rama asking Veliaj to leave the municipality and change lawyers is untrue.
"I can't find the reasons why those untruths were fabricated and I don't want to believe that Erioni said or wrote them. Anyone who knows me knows that there is no chance, in this world or the next, for me to utter the "messages" that have been put in my mouth. I am truly surprised," says Gogu.
The full message on social media of the Minister of Justice, Toni Gogu
I deeply regret the untruths that have been published today regarding my visit to the Fier Penitentiary Institution.
Yes, I met with Erion Veliaj on Friday. In the exercise of my responsibilities as Minister of Justice, I went to familiarize myself with the conditions of his treatment and to listen to the complaints publicly expressed by his lawyer.
I have a very early friendship with Erion, which everyone knows.
But I want to be completely clear: I can't find the reasons why those untruths were fabricated, and I don't want to believe that Erion said or wrote them.
Anyone who knows me knows that there is no chance, in this world or the next, that I would utter the "messages" that have been put into my mouth. I am truly surprised.
I went to listen to the concerns of a man behind a media haze and the understandable concerns of anyone who is concerned when it comes to freedom and rights. The circumstances of the visit are documented and verifiable.
For others, time and truth go hand in hand.
