Albania’s High Court Rules Against Tirana Mayor’s Release

Jailed Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj being accompanied to the Constitutional Court in October 2025. Photo: LSA. Albania’s High Court ruled on Tuesday that Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who is accused of corruption, money laundering and concealment of wealth, should remain in jail after his arrest was challenged in several courts. Veliaj’s defence has strongly challenged the enforcement measure that has kept him in detention for about a year-and-a-half. After losing an appeal in the Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime of First Instance and Appeals and in the High Court, the case was taken to the Constitutional Court with the argument that the arrest was disproportional.