Italian witness retracts claims against Erion Veliaj, admits allegations were “paid for lies”

An Italian citizen who two years ago accused former Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj of involvement in a failed incinerator deal has now retracted his statements, admitting they were fabricated in exchange for money. The notarized confession by Gabriele Tarroni Longinotti adds to the controversy surrounding the Veliaj case, which began after an anonymous letter triggered an investigation and subsequent arrest of the former mayor.

Why is this important: The retraction highlights how politically motivated allegations and media narratives can shape public perception and judicial processes in Albania. The case fuels broader debate over the role of opposition-linked media in spreading false accusations, with Syri TV, often referred to by opponents as the “Berisha family’s channel,” at the center of the storm.

Context: In spring 2023, just days before Albania’s local elections that Veliaj won in Tirana, Syri TV aired two interviews with Longinotti, who claimed Veliaj had been involved in purchasing scrap machinery from Romania through the company “Bruno Presezzi” SPA — equipment so worthless it had reportedly failed to find buyers even in Zimbabwe. The interviews were conducted by a journalist known for his support of Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha.

These allegations sparked nearly two years of opposition-led protests outside Tirana’s City Hall demanding Veliaj’s resignation.

Two years later, Longinotti has admitted he fabricated the story. In a notarized statement signed in Modena on September 24, 2025, before notary Rosa Chiarini, he retracted every claim he had made:

“I have never seen Mr. Erion Veliaj travel, alone or accompanied, to Italy or meet anyone for purposes related to the incinerator.”

“I have never met Mr. Erion Veliaj, personally or in the presence of others, either in Italy or in Albania at ‘Cioccolati Italiani’ or ‘Tribe,’ nor have I ever communicated with him in any form.”

“I have no knowledge or evidence that Mr. Erion Veliaj was involved in the purchase of the incinerator we had in Romania.”

“All statements I made about Mr. Erion Veliaj, both in interviews and implied, were false and given in exchange for promises from these television media and individuals close to them for financial gain.”

Veliaj’s reaction: From pre-trial detention in Durrës, Veliaj responded by posting the statement publicly, framing it as the first in a series of revelations that expose a deliberate plot against him:

“I am posting for everyone the first testimony from those who, knowingly or unknowingly, contributed to the trap set against me — a trap that produced an unlawful investigation from anonymity, a 20-year vetting of my life, the sabotage of our capital city at the peak of its success, the inhuman persecution of my family, and my grotesque isolation, as if I were a war criminal or cartel boss.”

He added: “From this first lie came false protests, were amplified with anonymous denunciations, fabricated accusations with intimidated witnesses, and ended with the sacking of our capital Tirana.”

Veliaj argued that even the accusations which led to his arrest originated in similar politically motivated fabrications, suggesting a pattern of opposition-driven smear campaigns.

He addressed his message to several audiences:

• To Longinotti, stressing that while he bore no personal grudge, words have weight and lies can destroy careers, cities, and families.
• To those who, “with political zeal,” participated in the fabrication, telling them he may be imprisoned but is not defeated, while they remain “trapped in the prison of their own malice.”
• To all Albanians living under fear, surveillance, and suspicion, urging them not to accept what he described as a “penal colony of fear in the name of new justice.”

Broader implications: The episode underscores longstanding concerns over fabricated accusations in Albanian politics. Opposition figures and affiliates have in the past been implicated in producing or amplifying false narratives — most notably Democratic Party MP Ervin Salianji, who served a year in prison for his role in the fabricated “Babale” audio scandal targeting a former Socialist minister.

What’s next: It remains to be seen whether there will be an investigation into this issue. In his confession Longinotti did not explain who paid him. Nor did he shed any light on how he got in touch with Syri Tv.