Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj participated in the preliminary hearing at the Criminal Court of Albania today. During the hearing, he renewed his request not to be held in a glass cage during the trial, but this request was again rejected by the trial panel.
Following the decision, Veliaj announced the resignation of lawyer Artan Gjermeni, while the court appointed lawyer Valentina Teodorescu as his main defense attorney.
The mayor had also filed a request for full and immediate access to the file acts, as well as for the postponement of the procedure until these rights are guaranteed. This request is expected to be reviewed by the court. Veliaj argues that the legislation gives the defendant an independent right to personally familiarize himself with the file, regardless of the legal defense.
