The next hearing for Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and his wife Ajola Xoxa is expected to take place today at the Special Court. The hearing scheduled for October 27 was postponed due to the lack of lawyers. The defense attorneys assigned by the free legal aid scheme, requested by the court, also did not appear in the courtroom.
Veliaj, meanwhile, has made it clear through a special request that he wishes to be represented only by lawyer Plarent Ndreca. With this stance, he has rejected the alternative defense previously assigned by the GJKKO panel.
Today's hearing comes after several days of tension over his situation in detention. On October 28, Veliaj was transferred from Durres to Fier prison, while lawyer Ndreca has objected to the manner of the transfer and the conditions in which his client is being held.
In recent days, Ndreca also denounced that he was prevented from meeting with Veliaj outside official hours and warned of criminal charges against the institution's leaders. Meanwhile, Veliaj himself published a letter from his cell in which he claimed that during a meeting with the Minister of Justice, Toni Gogu, he was forwarded three requests that, according to him, came from Rama.
According to the letter, he has been asked to admit involvement in organizing or financing student protests and the so-called “flamingo” movement, failing which, according to him, he would face charges of “disturbing the constitutional order.” Veliaj also says he has been asked to step down from the Tirana Municipality and delegate leadership to Arbër Hajdar, as well as to no longer consult with lawyer Plarent Ndreca. In the letter, he denies any involvement in the anti-government protests and challenges the prime minister to present evidence for such claims.
Gogu has denied these claims, stating that the visit to Fier prison was intended to familiarize himself with Veliaj's treatment conditions and the concerns raised by his defense.
