Toni Gogu confirms meeting with Veliaj at Fier prison: I went to hear his concerns, not to relay messages to him

Justice Minister Toni Gogu has responded to reports about his visit to Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj at Fier prison. He rejected claims that he had delivered a threatening message from Prime Minister Edi Rama during the meeting.

Gogu confirmed that he met Veliaj on Friday at the Fier Institution for the Enforcement of Criminal Decisions. According to him, the visit was related to his responsibilities as justice minister: learning about the conditions of Veliaj’s treatment and hearing the complaints that his lawyer had made public.

The minister said that he and Veliaj have a long-standing friendship known to everyone. He expressed deep regret and surprise at what he described as false reports published about the meeting. Gogu added that he did not understand why these claims had been fabricated and said he did not want to believe that Veliaj had said or written them.

Denying that he had conveyed any political message or threat from the prime minister, Gogu stressed that anyone who knows him is aware that he would not utter, in this world or the next, the words attributed to him.

He explained that he went to hear Veliaj’s concerns following what he called a media smokescreen, as well as the understandable concerns of anyone when freedom and rights are at stake. According to the minister, the circumstances of the visit are documented and can be verified. As for the rest, he said that time and truth go hand in hand.