
The host of the Top Story show, Grida Duma, has explained how the interview with the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, was conducted.
According to sources from the hearing, prosecutors Dado and Dumani have presented several audio recordings from detention, where Veliaj speaks with his brother and, in addition to other details, the mayor expresses concern about his interview on Top Story that it might not be in his favor.
Duma emphasized that it was the Tirana municipality office that contacted the Top Story editorial team for Veliaj's interview.
Then, the editorial office sent 5 questions to the Tirana municipality office, where Duma emphasizes that there was no communication with the mayor, who is in detention in Durrës.
Grida Duma: The interview we had with Alban in the studio was exclusive to Top Story, which was addressed to the editorial staff and not to me from the municipality's press office, one of the most protocol-oriented cases possible. When an interview is given, one speaks with the author of the show, or the moderator.
I have no duty to show anyone any communication, but I want to show the public the moral standard by which I deal with all politicians. One thing is certain, that we talk to politicians, it would not have been a surprise, that we have not spoken in this specific case even with Erion Veliaj, I do not know him at all, with the gentleman who is his brother, and neither has the editorial office, but the municipality with the editorial office of Top Story. That Erion Veliaj, X, Y will come to Top Story, I do not believe it is a surprise, and we do not have any reason why Top Story happened. For this dimension to be touched on in an unintended way that makes everyone the same, I do not think it is our place to remain silent when it comes to SPAK.
I will show for the same standard that clarification of the wiretaps that is within the right of SPAK to do any wiretap that it sees as reasonable because I know which side of moral justice we stand on and because I know if those wiretaps are what they are, I know what they will be like for Top Story and Top Channel and credibility. I will wait until that file is released, but I want to explain to the public that the communication was with the editorial office, we sent them 5 questions, once by voice and then the editorial office clarified them and sent them back to the Tirana municipality, the gentleman did not raise any additional questions that he wanted to say that I need this too. Of course, Erion Veliaj has in his mind that he will have the media as part of his public life and he has had it, in my opinion, with a certain excess.
This is the issue and his choice of how much he loves the media space, how important the media space is in situations of political crises, this is shown by reality itself. In that interview. I ask the director to remind others. It was a handwritten interview by Veliaj, in that show we had a lawyer who said that Olsi Dado is a prosecutor who cannot move from the case, starting with our first question, why do you intimidate the prosecutor knowing that you had a conflict of interest.
I don't want to go back to that show, because I will go back to it when that file appears to show the standard to which we do it. If they are real wiretaps, I know what could have been said about Top Story and I don't think it was a matter of positive influence because I know what happens to me and to us, but we will wait for that when that file appears on the same wall and we learn what was said about Top Story that was neither advantageous nor advantageous, but I believe it was up to standards and we will see.