SPAK and GJKKO defend their work but ignore Strasbourg ruling and Veliaj audio scandal

At a high-profile conference on Albania’s justice system, SPAK Chief Altin Dumani, GJKKO Chief Judge Erion Bani, and KLP Chair Mirela Bogdani defended their institutions against growing criticism. Dumani rejected accusations that SPAK abuses pretrial detention, calling them “a failed attempt” to portray the agency as a repressive institution. However, none of them addressed two major controversies: the Strasbourg Court ruling that found Albania guilty of unjustified pretrial detention in the so-called Gëllçi case, and the recently leaked courtroom audio in which SPAK prosecutor Olsi Dado is heard insulting and berating Erion Veliaj during his hearing.

Why is this important: The Strasbourg ruling condemned Albania for keeping a defendant in pretrial detention without sufficient legal basis, setting a precedent that could directly impact Veliaj’s case but also many others. Meanwhile, the leaked audio from Veliaj’s hearing directly contradicts official court transcripts, released by GJKKO to the public, and raises concerns about judicial transparency and integrity. The failure of SPAK, GJKKO, and KLP to address these issues does not help the justice institutions, but only fuels further doubt about their handling of high-profile cases.

Context: At the conference, held in the presence of EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, Dumani rejected claims that SPAK unjustifiably keeps individuals in pretrial detention. He insisted that only 5% of SPAK’s detentions involve corruption cases and that the institution acts strictly within legal parameters.

“Every investigation has its own dynamics. The attempt to present SPAK as a repressive institution is a failed effort because the facts speak for themselves.”

However, Dumani did not address the European Court of Human Rights ruling, which found that Albania violated human rights by detaining former public broadcaster chief Thoma Gëllçi without sufficient evidence. Since Veliaj’s legal team has raised identical concerns regarding his pretrial detention, Dumani’s silence on the ruling is notable.

What else: Just as notable was the silence of GJKKO Chief Judge Erion Bani, who ruled to detain Veliaj, on the leaked audio recordings that contradict the official court transcript of Veliaj’s hearing and raise suspicion of the transcripts having been doctored. While Bani argued that “judges cannot be put on trial”, he did not explain why the court-issued transcript omitted key portions of the session—most notably, prosecutor Olsi Dado’s insults and apparent threats.

The leaked recording, released by Report TV, includes portions left out of the transcript in which Dado can be clearly heard calling Veliaj repeatedly a “pathological liar” and “he is very filthy” forcing judge Bani to intervene on more than one occasion.

The fact that these comments were left out of the official transcript raises serious concerns about whether judicial records are being manipulated to protect SPAK prosecutors. Bani’s refusal to address the issue, despite speaking about judicial integrity, adds to the controversy.

KLP Chair Mirela Bogdani also kept silent on the scandal, but attempted to deflect criticism, insisting that institutions should be allowed to work without political interference.

“We must step back and let justice take its course. Prosecution requests for detention are reviewed by courts at multiple levels, and it is the judiciary’s role—not the public’s—to assess whether SPAK’s actions are legal.”

An escalating crisis: While Dumani, Bani, and Bogdani attempted to reassure the public of their institutions’ integrity, their refusal to address these major issues only intensifies the controversy. The conference was attended by EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato, who reaffirmed the European Union’s support for Albania’s justice reform but did not directly comment on the scandals.