Artan Hoxha spoke on the “Prime News24” program about Justice Minister Toni Gogu’s visit to Erion Veliaj at Fier Prison. The journalist described the meeting as a form of mafia-style intimidation and stressed that it took place at 10:30 p.m., outside normal visiting hours, indicating an extraordinary situation.
“What happened at Fier Prison was a mafia-style threat. Not even Putin makes that kind of threat in that way. The minister goes to the prison at 10:30 p.m. There are set hours for entering and hours when entry is not allowed, except in emergencies. It seems there is a serious problem, and this is part of that typical mafia-style threat,” Hoxha said, describing Prime Minister Edi Rama as a “coward.”
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The journalist said he had spoken with Veliaj’s lawyer, as well as with sources inside Fier Prison. According to Hoxha, Veliaj’s condition and treatment raise concerns: although the mayor has an injured leg, he has been placed in a section housing people convicted of serious crimes. Hoxha also alleged that Veliaj was kept for 48 hours in a windowless cell, is taken out for fresh air alone, and is under constant surveillance.
Responding to Minister Gogu’s statements denying that he conveyed threats during the meeting, Hoxha said he had greater confidence in Erion Veliaj’s account. He also pointed to the fact that the mayor has been in prison for 20 months, while the minister visited him only now.
According to Hoxha, the dispute between the two sides concerns control of Tirana Municipality and the upcoming local elections. He alleged that Veliaj has regained influence in the municipality since mid-September, removing people appointed there by Rama—a move that, according to the journalist, has escalated the conflict between them.
Hoxha said that, according to Veliaj’s letter, the message conveyed by Gogu was that he should give up running Tirana Municipality or face charges and the possibility of a 100-year prison sentence.
In conclusion, the journalist called for an investigation into the responsibility of the penitentiary institutions and the way the meeting was arranged late at night. He also referred to the leadership of Fier County and the appointment of the prison director, mentioning Belinda Balluku’s role as the head of the Socialist Party in the county.
