FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Erion Veliaj's lawyers have reacted after the closure of the investigations by SPAK and the sending of the mayor's file for trial to the GJKKO. Veliaj's lawyers have denied SPAK's accusations, saying that there is no evidence, fact or document that substantiates the mayor's violations.
According to them, this entire story was fabricated and published by the prosecution with the aim of causing maximum prejudice against Veliaj, both in public opinion and in every court.
Further, the lawyers state that this investigation had many flaws, starting with an anonymous and falsified complaint; it was conducted for a period of at least 7 months, without any valid legal authorization, it included self-incriminating statements taken under pressure, it flagrantly violated the investigative deadlines set by law; and it brutally denied the right to defense and objections to the investigation.
Veliaj's lawyers say they remain determined to dismantle, line by line, every claim raised in this fabricated trial, to protect the first citizen of Tirana, but also to protect the citizens' own trust in justice and constitutional order.
Press statement from Erion Veliaj's lawyers:
Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj continues to categorically deny all allegations of wrongdoing, as he has done since the beginning of the investigation two years ago.
No page of the request for judgment proves:
• no connection between his activity as Mayor and any illegal privilege for any private entity;
• no abuse of the public office entrusted to him for three terms by the citizens of Tirana;
• and above all:
No evidence
No facts
No documents
Despite the impressions that SPAK's statement aims to create, no preliminary judge or court has yet reviewed any of the charges or any evidence in support of them.
We are concerned by the disregard for the basic norms that guide the conduct of criminal investigations and similar prosecutions in a democratic justice system. No mature and responsible investigator or prosecutor, who is aware of his or her role in the justice process, should make statements of this nature. This is not only in complete contradiction to the presumption of innocence, but at best demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding, or at worst, a total disregard for the basic principles of criminal justice.
Simply put, whether a prosecutor has “proved” a case against a defendant to the required standard is a matter for the reviewing court alone. SPAK’s public statement appears to have been designed to cause maximum prejudice against Mr. Veliaj, both in public opinion and in any court. This conduct is consistent with SPAK’s actions throughout the investigation, where repeated, systematic, and gross violations of due process occurred.
This is a process that:
• was initiated based on an anonymous and falsified report;
• has been carried out for a period of at least 7 months, without any valid legal authorization;
• it relied on opening private correspondence without court authorization and provision of law;
• included self-incriminating statements taken under duress;
• is directed by an individual who has never been a legal prosecutor of the Republic;
• has flagrantly violated the investigative deadlines set by law;
• has brutally denied the right to defense and objections to the investigation.
Mr. Veliaj has been assigned an extraordinary and completely disproportionate security measure, at a time when he is exercising a constitutional mandate as the elected Mayor of Tirana, with the support of 160 thousand citizens who entrusted him with the leadership of the largest Albanian-speaking city.
We, as legal representatives of Mr. Veliaj, remain determined to dismantle, line by line, every claim raised in this rigged process. Not only to protect the first citizen of Tirana, who has exercised his function with constitutional responsibility and devotion, but to protect the very trust of citizens in justice and constitutional order.
Every line of that request filed in court will be dismantled there and then, based on the law.
Lini një Përgjigje