Editoria e Media
Kasowitz LLP and Mishcon de Reya LLP Publish an Updated Report Regarding the Political Persecution of Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana
Moreover, the Updated Veliaj Report notes that recent political events have amplified the concern that Mayor Veliaj's case is a political persecution designed to strip him of his duly elected position as Mayor in violation of the Albanian Constitution. In September, the Municipal Council of Tirana – citing Mayor Veliaj's involuntary detention – removed him from office. As the report notes, this decision, followed by an announcement by the President of the Republic to hold new elections to replace Mayor Veliaj, created the appearance that Mayor Veliaj's unjustified detention was the pretext on which the Albanian authorities have tried to unconstitutionally strip him of his position and disenfranchise the citizens of Tirana of their right to self-government.
While the Constitutional Court has, for the time being, suspended any such actions until Mayor Veliaj's appeal challenging the Municipal Council's decision has been decided, the Updated Veliaj Report explores the implications of this constitutional crisis. One of the observations of the report is that Mayor Veliaj's case is a clear example in which Albania's commitment to due process has come into question. According to the report, recent political maneuvers intended to depose Mayor Veliaj have vitiated the presumption of innocence to which Mayor Veliaj is entitled, and deprived him of his liberty and his office – all before his trial has even begun.
A copy of the Updated Veliaj Report is available . Any inquiries should be directed to Shannon O'Reilly (soreilly@kasowitz).
The Kasowitz team includes partners Daniel J. Fetterman and
Brian S. Choi in New York , and senior counsel
Clarine Nardi Riddle and special counsel
David Miller in Washington , D.C.
The Mishcon de Reya team includes partners James Libson and Ben Brandon , managing associate Celia Marr , and associates Grace Houghton and Elizabeth Fitton .
Shannon O'Reilly
(212) 547-1290
SOReilly@kasowitz.com
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