Editorial note: Erion Veliaj case becomes political thriller as SPAK faces growing backlash

The arrest of Tirana’s mayor, Erion Veliaj, was expected to be contentious. Veliaj is one of the most senior Socialist officials, a three-time popular mayor of Tirana credited with the city’s dramatic transformation and the political director for the election campaign in the Tirana district, where one-third of Albanians live. Arresting Veliaj—widely regarded as an electoral powerhouse—just three months before the elections was bound to spark controversy. What has caught many by surprise, however, is the growing perception that the case is built on flimsy evidence and questionable legal reasoning. Critics argue that SPAK’s handling of the case appears rushed, poorly substantiated, and politically motivated, raising serious concerns about the institution’s credibility.

Why this is important: SPAK has been central to Albania’s anti-corruption efforts, earning broad public trust. However, its handling of the Veliaj case is now fueling accusations of selective justice and procedural inconsistencies. If the prosecution fails to make its case convincingly, the fallout could damage SPAK’s reputation and cast serious doubts over the future of judicial reform.

Context: While questions about SPAK’s methods had been raised before—and the opposition had repeatedly launched vicious attacks against it—the prosecution of Erion Veliaj has triggered an unprecedented wave of scrutiny and criticism. The backlash now includes a mass of people, politicians, and commentators who had previously supported SPAK wholeheartedly. What began as another high-profile corruption case has instead evolved into a broader public and political reckoning over SPAK’s credibility and the direction of Albania’s justice reform.

Growing doubts: Several key issues have dominated discussions in the media in recent days:

A flimsy anonymous denunciation: At the heart of SPAK’s case is a single-page anonymous letter that set the investigation in motion. Initially described as a detailed and credible tip-off, the document—now publicly scrutinized by Gazeta Tema—reads more like a collection of rumors and gossip than a serious legal complaint. Critics argue that such an unsubstantiated document should not have been enough to justify an investigation unless SPAK had already decided to go after Veliaj. SPAK has previously been accused of targeting individuals rather than conducting broader investigations into systemic corruption.

Conflict of interest allegations: Further complicating the case is the role of Olsi Dado, the lead prosecutor. Dado was among the beneficiaries of a construction permit from the municipality. In court, Veliaj accused Dado of threatening him after being denied a second permit, raising serious concerns over impartiality. Whether or not the claim about the threat is true, legal experts argue that Dado’s involvement in the case represents a clear conflict of interest and that he should have recused himself.

Procedural missteps: SPAK’s credibility was further called into question when its case file wrongly listed Veliaj as a convicted criminal. SPAK called this a mistake and attempted to shift blame onto the Prison Directorate. However, the Prison Directorate issued a denial, confirming that it had notified SPAK from the outset that Veliaj had never been convicted. SPAK has downplayed the issue as a clerical mistake, but critics argue that such an error suggests a lack of due diligence in what should be a high-stakes, carefully prepared prosecution.

Double standards. Beyond concerns about the strength of the case, critics point to inconsistencies in SPAK’s treatment of high-profile figures.

Veliaj has been placed under a very strict incarceration regime and denied visitation rights, a restriction not imposed on other high-profile detainees, such as Ilir Meta or Fredi Beleri, who received scores of visits.

While Veliaj remains in pretrial detention, Sali Berisha—facing his own corruption probe—was allowed to remain free. (He was remanded to house arrest not by SPAK, but by the court, after refusing to comply with a court order.)

The fact that Berisha was released in time for the electoral campaign, while Veliaj—who oversees the Socialist campaign in Tirana—was hastily arrested just before the campaign began, has raised further concerns about SPAK’s actions.

Such discrepancies have fueled suspicions that SPAK is applying different legal standards depending on political context, damaging its reputation for impartiality.

“Luxury dresses” controversy: Another controversial element of the case is the allegation that Veliaj’s wife misused funds to buy expensive clothing—specifically, more than €800,000 over six years on designer clothes and jewelry.

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted angrily to the leak of this allegation to the media, calling it an attempt by the prosecution to play politics by using misleading information to foment public outrage.

If true, such an allegation would have been Albania’s “Imelda Marcos” moment. However, new information suggests that the dresses in question were purchased for music video productions, not personal use.

Veliaj’s wife also leads one of Albania’s most respected cultural foundations, responsible for organizing major exhibitions, including Albania’s first-ever Salvador Dalí show. The foundation’s financing—including legally declared donations from construction firms—has yet to be proven illicit.

Critics argue that this charge appears designed more to stir public outrage than to prove financial misconduct. It would not be the first time SPAK has resorted to such tactics. In one of the most notorious cases, after searching the beachfront villa of a former senior official, leaked reports to the media included the discovery of sex toys in a drawer—information irrelevant to the investigation but clearly aimed at public humiliation.

Political fallout: Veliaj’s arrest has triggered an unexpected reaction: Sali Berisha, a longtime critic of SPAK, has now suddenly become one of its biggest defenders.

Berisha—who has publicly threatened SPAK’s leadership and vowed to dismantle the institution if he wins the elections—is now championing its case against Veliaj.

This shift, along with media reports detailing links between senior figures in the Democratic Party and both the prosecutor and judge in the Veliaj case, has further fueled suspicions that the case serves political rather than legal purposes.

Even some opposition figures typically hostile to Veliaj have criticized SPAK’s approach:

Fatmir Mediu, a longtime ally of Berisha, warned that pretrial detention without solid evidence undermines the presumption of innocence.

Journalist Andi Bushati, a sworn government critic, called SPAK’s case one of the weakest corruption dossiers in recent memory.

SPAK’s silence risks backfiring: Despite growing criticism, SPAK has largely remained silent. But as pressure mounts, this strategy is becoming increasingly untenable.

If SPAK fails to present clear evidence of wrongdoing, the case could collapse under scrutiny, damaging both its credibility and the future of corruption investigations in Albania.

The stakes are high. Berisha has already vowed to dismantle SPAK if he returns to power, and international support for Albania’s justice reforms appears weaker under the current U.S. administration.

For an institution built on prosecuting high-level corruption, SPAK now faces a stark reality: if its highest-profile case turns into its biggest failure, its own future could be at risk.