As a network representing dozens of democratically elected mayors across Balkans, we express our grave concern over the continued pre-trial detention of Erion Veliaj, the elected Mayor of Tirana, and its implications for the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights, and local democracy in Albania.

Mayor Erion Veliaj has been held in pre-trial detention since 10 February 2025 and has now remained in detention for 19 months without having been convicted. In a recent landmark judgment dated 1 July 2026, the Constitutional Court of Albania found that the lower Supreme Court failed to conduct the meaningful constitutional review required when upholding his continued detention. The Court held that the lower courts had not adequately assessed whether detention remained necessary and proportionate, failed to consider less restrictive alternatives, and neglected the impact of prolonged detention on the exercise of his constitutional rights.

With the Supreme Court review scheduled for 15 September, we believe this is an important opportunity for the relevant judicial authorities to give full and careful consideration to the Constitutional Court’s judgment and to all circumstances surrounding Mayor Veliaj’s continued detention.

We have full respect for the ongoing judicial process and for the independence of Albania’s courts. At the same time, we believe that the length of the detention, together with the Constitutional Court’s findings, makes it particularly important that the principles of necessity, proportionality and the availability of alternative measures receive careful consideration.

These considerations are also relevant to the broader context of local democracy. Mayor Veliaj was elected by the citizens of Tirana and remains the holder of a democratic mandate. In this regard, the Venice Commission has previously highlighted that measures affecting the ability of an elected mayor to exercise their mandate can have important implications for local autonomy and democratic representation. This broader principle is also reflected in the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which places particular importance on the effective exercise of elected local mandates.

In this context, and while fully respecting the independence of the judicial process, we hope that every appropriate option will be carefully considered to ensure that the measures applied during the proceedings remain proportionate and, where possible, allow for the continued exercise of the mandate entrusted to Mayor Veliaj by the citizens of Tirana.

We therefore look to the forthcoming review with the expectation that it will provide a meaningful opportunity to address the concerns identified by the Constitutional Court and to ensure that Mayor Veliaj’s fundamental rights are fully respected throughout the proceedings.

The Constitutional Court’s judgment has created an important opportunity for further consideration of Mayor Veliaj’s situation. We hope that the 15 September review will contribute to a fair, balanced and constructive assessment of the matter, with full respect for both the judicial process and the democratic mandate entrusted to Mayor Veliaj by the people of Tirana.

Date: 11.09.2026

Signed by:

B40 Balkan Cities Network Members and Mayors