While elections are expected to be held soon for the Municipality of Tirana and the nominee to take the reins of the institution is Ogerta Manastirliu, the still-incumbent mayor, Erion Veliaj, is continuing his efforts to leave the detention cells.
For the second time, he has put the Supreme Court in motion with a recourse, through which he requests the lifting of the security measure "prison arrest". The two arguments that Veliaj is now expected to present at all levels of the trial are; first, the investigations have been completed and there is no longer any risk of destroying evidence or intimidating witnesses, and second, there is no longer any political power to exert influence.
The Supreme Court is expected to review the mayor's appeal and decide whether to continue his detention or to ease his security measures. Veliaj is officially charged with 13 charges, while his wife, Ajola Xoxa, is charged with 11 charges. 28 other individuals, businesses and NGOs have also been named as defendants.
