In the trial against Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and other defendants, special prosecutor Altin Dumani asked the Special Court to consider the possibility of continuing the sessions without the presence of legal defense attorneys, considering the boycott as an illegal reason for non-participation.
"Defense is a right. Considering the behavior of the defendants and their lawyers, we believe that the Court should consider the possibility of considering their behavior as a waiver of this right and continuing the trial without a lawyer. The Court of Appeal has such a precedent, where it has reviewed cases without a lawyer," declared Dumani. But the court said that it will express its opinion on this request at a later date.
Because the lawyers have been boycotting the court for more than a month in protest against the court's regulations, the next hearing was postponed to October 27. Meanwhile, the trial panel assigned lawyers to the defendants from the Ministry of Justice's list of free legal aid. The GJKKO also fined the defense attorneys 100 thousand lek each.
Erion Veliaj, his wife, Ajola Xoxa, and other defendants are being tried for corruption, money laundering, and concealment of assets.
