Journalist Koldiana Lala was a guest on Vizion Plus this evening, where she spoke about Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj.
In her remarks, Lala said that the meeting between Minister Toni Gogu and Veliaj appeared to have been planned, adding that, in her view, the Tirana mayor would use it to portray himself as politically persecuted.
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“Erion Veliaj has tried to build an alibi to portray himself as politically persecuted. You know, there has been an attack on the justice system. But the fact that a meeting took place today between the justice minister and Veliaj in the director’s office—a meeting that would have been entirely normal had Gogu announced it—makes me suspect that something is going on,” she said.
The journalist also added that he would use the second case against him, which also involves his family members, before the Strasbourg Court.
“It is clear that there is something suspicious about Minister Gogu’s meeting with Veliaj. The minister can go and make visits; this has happened over the years. But the fact that Toni Gogu went at 10:30 p.m., held a meeting not as part of an inspection and not in his capacity as justice minister, is telling. He went without staff and did not inspect the common areas.
Erion Veliaj has tried to build an alibi to portray himself as politically persecuted. You know, there has been an attack on the justice system. But the fact that a meeting took place today between the justice minister and Veliaj in the director’s office—a meeting that would have been entirely normal had Gogu announced it—makes me suspect that something is going on.
Of course, Veliaj will use it in Strasbourg.
The story of blackmail carried out on behalf of the prime minister cannot be resolved with a diary and Facebook. If Veliaj has fallen victim to blackmail, he should turn to the institutions and say what he was blackmailed over. I asked Mr Ndreca why they were not filing a criminal complaint. Mr Ndreca did not answer; he said they were discussing it. There is no criminal complaint. It appears that Veliaj is using this as a strategy because a British law firm has initiated proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights.
But Toni Gogu should also have provided explanations.
He is the same Veliaj who lied to us at the door of SPAK. What do you expect from Veliaj? He is the one who appeared on television planting trees while he was on an airplane.
Mr Hajdari has often been mentioned. But there is an absurdity here, because Mr Shkëlzim Hajdari is a prefect and it makes no sense.
There is an open investigation. Of course, Mr Veliaj can exploit the persecution angle. There is a Veliaj case two, a section of case file 2. The transactions of his brother’s company are being examined. Investigators are looking into whether this company or other affiliated companies have benefited from Tirana Municipality.
All of Veliaj’s trips abroad have been obtained in order to determine what they were like, whether they were planned and who traveled with him.
This case is continuing. The fact that there may be new charges against Veliaj,” Lala said.
