FLASH
Shkruar nga Ilir Yzeiri
Why is the general public showing interest in the fate of the acting mayor, Erion Veliaj, who has been held in detention for almost 500 days?
From his appearance at the Administrative Court on May 8 until the end of the following week, Erion Veliaj was the topic of the day in all Albanian media. He ranked first, leaving behind all other political actors, all the sensitive events that this period had and, for the first time, the attention towards him even surpassed Prime Minister Edi Rama. Neither the big concert at the "Italia" Square in honor of Ennio Morricone, nor the protest of the Democratic Party that was held on the same day as his appearance at the Administrative Court, managed to divert attention from Veliaj.
The echo continued in the international media and these days a well-known newspaper in Belgium, where important EU institutions are located, "MorningBrussels", with author Martin Banks, dedicated an extensive report to this event, placing it in a broad background and emphasizing the high sensitivity that the Veliaj case has aroused in Albania and the world.
Parallel to that appearance of Veliaj was the beginning of the trial against former President Ilir Meta or the continuation of the trial for former Prime Minister Berisha and his son-in-law. But, if Ilir Meta's appearance in court two weeks ago shocked public opinion when he appeared physically crushed in the glass cage, this time, when he appeared in the trial session on the merits, the attention was normal. But why has Veliaj occupied the forefront of the country in the public space these days?
Why is the general public showing interest in the fate of the acting mayor Erion Veliaj, who has been in detention for almost 500 days? There are many reasons, but what attracted attention this time was his lawsuit against prosecutor Olsi Dado, whom Veliaj accuses of being appointed to the prosecutor's office outside the legal norms and criteria. Former President of the Republic Bamir Topi also spoke out on this matter, saying that there is no document in his file except for the accompanying letter from former Attorney General Ina Rama.
The representative of the current presidency said in the previous session that if such a request had come today, Olsi Dado would not have been appointed prosecutor of the Republic. The court session on May 8 has been talked about at length. It took on a special value because that day the greatest Albanian actor of our days, Robert Ndrenika, also appeared there. Robert Ndrenika hugged Veliaj, kissed him on the forehead and said the words that have now become known that whatever remains of prison, I will come and do.
Ndrenika's open defection to Veliaj's side incited hatred and insults among those portals or individuals who have long since deconstructed both the work and the character of Veliaj, himself and his family. Meanwhile, on the other hand, well-known personalities and academics took the floor and not only defended Ndrenika, but also showed the public for the first time in strong tones that the Albanian culture of communist popular punishment must end.
Veliaj is an innocent detainee until a final decision. Meanwhile, if you look at this event from another angle, you will notice that Veliaj's popularity, which overshadowed all the other actors, comes from a single reason: for the first time, the public saw a live broadcast of the trials. Until now, the culture of violence and lynching of SPAK detainees has prevailed in the public space. Veliaj's first contact with the public and the development of a session which, although it was forbidden to be broadcast live, was nevertheless transmitted through the journalists who were there, finally created the expected perception that good and evil now have a name.
Veliaj has found a profound legal argument and is asking the relevant authorities to state whether or not the appointment of prosecutor Olsi Dado is legal. Those who are tasked with clarifying this position, unfortunately, want to hide this scandal. The institution that should express itself on this issue not only made a ridiculous appearance in that session, but now, finally, we saw what debates and what quality the meetings of that institution have, in which the Chairperson of the KLP screams and violates the law, while the well-known prosecutor Sokol Stojani appears shocked. But the Veliaj incident also has its political side.
Erion Veliaj has declared himself innocent and has accused politics, certain segments of the superstructure of setting a trap for him. The way he and his case have been treated has now convinced even Erion Veliaj's many supporters that he is a victim of a typical Albanian combination. The Socialist Party's silence on the scandals that are being noticed daily in the Veliaj case, his inhumane treatment in Albanian prisons at the time when the Socialist, Rama's favorite, Ulsi Manja, was the Minister of the Interior, makes one suspect that something has broken badly within the Socialist Party. Veliaj is now gaining the broad support of the socialist people because everyone is convinced that he represents the right side of Albanian politics and that his opponents, those who do not want his leadership this time, were wrong.
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