Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has strongly denied corruption claims, calling them a “fabricated trap” during a city council meeting, following hours of questioning by prosecutors. Veliaj rejected the accusations as politically motivated, maintaining his innocence and questioning the integrity of the complaint.
Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj has been questioned by Albania’s Special Prosecutor’s Office as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
Veliaj, 45, arrived at the prosecutor’s office on Thursday morning, where he was questioned for over five hours. The investigation centres around allegations of passive corruption involving local officials, though no formal charges have been laid against the mayor.
Unlike a previous lengthy questioning earlier this year over the controversial Tirana incinerator case, Veliaj left the prosecutor’s office without making a public statement. Instead, he told reporters he would address the matter during a later session of the municipal council.
Speaking after his questioning, Veliaj dismissed the complaint filed against him by a man named Nesti Angoni, calling it a “fabricated trap”. He defended his cooperation with authorities and claimed his residence in Tirana was well known and would prove there was no wrongdoing.
The investigation has also expanded to include Veliaj’s family members, with reports suggesting that they may have benefited from deals linked to the municipality. Authorities are examining financial transactions, contracts, and potentially fraudulent invoices.
In recent weeks, investigators seized phones from companies owned by Veliaj’s wife, Ajola Xoxa, as part of their probe into potential misconduct. The prosecutor’s office has also pursued cases against individuals linked to public tenders awarded to companies with connections to the mayor’s associates.
Veliaj, who has denied any personal involvement in corruption, remains under investigation.
