The opposition today persistently requested the presence of Justice Minister Toni Gogu at the Human Rights Committee to ask him for explanations regarding Erion Veliaj's accusations. But later, when the minister appeared before the Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration, the opposition MPs were not present to confront him with these accusations.
In the Human Rights Commission, Gogu's absence sparked debates, which ended with opposition MPs leaving the meeting. MP Jorida Tabaku demanded explanations for the claims of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, according to whom the minister had gone to Fier prison to convey threats on behalf of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
However, the minister later appeared in another parliamentary committee, where the opposition was not present to address the questions it had raised earlier.
Meanwhile, Toni Gogu, accused by Veliaj of having conveyed ultimatums from the prime minister, spoke precisely about guaranteeing citizens' rights and their access to justice.
"A right that exists in law, but does not reach the person, remains a promise on paper," the minister declared during the presentation of the justice budget for 2027.
The statement comes at a time when Veliaj claims that Gogu, during the meeting in Fier prison, asked him to stop communicating with his lawyer, Plarent Ndreca.
During the meeting, the minister announced the opening of 10 new Free Legal Aid offices, as well as a 66% increase in the budget of the Probation Service. He also spoke about the rehabilitation of convicts and the protection of citizens' rights.
But while Gogu presented measures to guarantee access to justice and free legal aid, a question directly related to these rights remained unanswered in the committee: Did the minister really ask a detainee to stop communicating with his lawyer and did he convey threats on behalf of the prime minister?
If these allegations are proven, will the Minister of Justice be held accountable?
The parliamentary morning thus ended with two contradictory situations. The opposition requested the minister's presence to hold him accountable, but did not confront him with questions when he appeared in another committee. Meanwhile, Gogu spoke about protecting citizens' rights, without confronting the accusations leveled against him by the mayor of Tirana.
