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Mayors of the B40 Network issue joint statement on Veliaj's detention: Local democracy is being attacked!

2026-09-14 13:34:15Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Mayors of the B40 Network issue joint statement on Veliaj's detention:

The B40 Network of Balkan Cities, which represents dozens of elected mayors in the region, has published a joint statement on the issue of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj.

In the statement, the B40 network expresses deep concern about the implications that this detention has on the rule of law and local democracy in Albania.

The mayors of the signatory municipalities emphasize their respect for the independence of the Albanian judicial system, but request that the principles of proportionality be taken into account during the future review.

The statement also emphasizes that Veliaj remains the holder of a democratic mandate, given by the citizens of Tirana. In this context, the network cites previous positions of the Venice Commission, according to which restrictions on the ability of elected mayors to exercise their mandate may infringe on local autonomy.

The signatories express their hope that the September 15 hearing will provide a fair and balanced response to the concerns raised by the Constitutional Court.

Full statement:

Joint statement on the review by the Supreme Court of Albania on September 15, detention, rule of law and local democracy of the case of Erion Veliaj, elected mayor of Tirana

As a network representing dozens of democratically elected mayors across the Balkans, we express our deep concern about the continued detention of Erion Veliaj, the elected Mayor of Tirana, and its implications for the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights, and local democracy in Albania.

President Erion Veliaj has been in pre-trial detention since 10 February 2025 and has now been detained for 19 months without being sentenced. In a landmark decision of 1 July 2026, the Constitutional Court of Albania found that the High Court, at the previous instance, had failed to conduct the necessary constitutional review when deciding to extend his pre-trial detention. The Court ruled that the courts of the previous instances had not sufficiently assessed whether the pre-trial detention remained necessary and proportionate, had not considered less restrictive alternative measures, and had neglected the impact of the prolonged pre-trial detention on the exercise of his constitutional rights.

With the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for September 15, we believe that this is an important case for the relevant judicial authorities to pay full and careful attention to the Constitutional Court's decision, as well as all circumstances related to the continued detention of President Veliaj.

We have full respect for the ongoing judicial process and for the independence of the Albanian courts. At the same time, we believe that the length of pre-trial detention, together with the findings of the Constitutional Court, makes it particularly important that the principles of necessity, proportionality and availability of alternative measures receive careful consideration.

These considerations are also important in the broader context of local democracy. Mayor Veliaj was elected by the citizens of Tirana and remains the holder of a democratic mandate. In this regard, the Venice Commission has previously stressed that measures affecting the ability of an elected mayor to exercise his mandate can have important implications for local autonomy and democratic representation. This broader principle is also reflected in the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which attaches particular importance to the effective exercise of elected local mandates.

In this context, and while fully respecting the independence of the judicial process, we hope that every appropriate option will be carefully considered, so that the measures implemented during the process remain proportionate and, where possible, allow the continuation of the exercise of the mandate that the citizens of Tirana entrusted to Mayor Veliaj.

Therefore, we look forward to the upcoming review with the expectation that it will provide a meaningful opportunity to address the concerns identified by the Constitutional Court and to ensure that the fundamental rights of President Veliaj are fully respected throughout the process.

The Constitutional Court's decision has created an important opportunity for further consideration of the situation of Mayor Veliaj. We hope that the hearing on September 15 will contribute to a fair, balanced and constructive assessment of the case, fully respecting both the judicial process and the democratic mandate that the people of Tirana entrusted to Mayor Veliaj.


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