Erion Veliaj and Ajola Xoxa case (SPAK, 'Veliaj' file)
Status: On trial at GJKKO; defendant held in pretrial detention (as reported through 15 Sep 2026). No verdict.
Summary
SPAK arrested Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on 10 February 2025 (Citizens.al; some outlets say 11 February) on suspicion of corruption and money laundering, and placed his wife Ajola Xoxa under investigation with a house-arrest request. Formal charges were communicated on 23 July 2025 while he was held at Durrës prison, per Citizens.al. SPAK referred the case to trial on 10 September 2025, with 13 charges against Veliaj (Citizens.al). The alleged benefit to the Veliaj-Xoxa couple is reported as about EUR 1 million (or EUR 1.1 million in an earlier Citizens.al article).
The defence (Kasowitz LLP and Mishcon de Reya) describes the detention and prosecution as political persecution and due-process violations. These are advocacy claims and are labelled DISPUTED where they contest facts. Courts have repeatedly upheld pretrial detention: the High Court (9 Jul 2025, Tirana Times), and the Supreme Court (15 Sep 2026, Albanian Daily News), after a Constitutional Court remand in July 2026 (Mishcon de Reya).
The trial is at GJKKO. The 21 Jul 2026 hearing was adjourned to 15 Sep 2026 after Veliaj and his lawyer were absent (Balkanweb). No verdict has been found.
Key facts
- Arrest: 10 Feb 2025 per Citizens.al (other outlets say 11 Feb).
- Charges communicated: 23 Jul 2025 (Citizens.al).
- Trial referral: 10 Sep 2025, 13 charges against Veliaj (Citizens.al).
- Veliaj charge categories, as reported: abuse of office, corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets, bringing an illegal item into prison (Citizens.al, 23 Jul 2025). Tirana Times lists four categories: passive corruption, active corruption, money laundering, asset concealment.
- Ajola Xoxa charges: corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets (Citizens.al, 23 Jul 2025).
- Defendants referred to trial: about 30 individuals and entities (Citizens.al, 10 Sep 2025).
- Trial court: GJKKO (Balkanweb, 21 Jul 2026).
- Constitutional Court reinstated Veliaj as mayor on 3 Nov 2025 (as reported by Mishcon de Reya; not verified against the court text).
- Supreme Court upheld detention 15 Sep 2026 (Albanian Daily News).
What is proven
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- No court has issued a verdict. Pretrial detention has been upheld by several courts (Tirana Times 9 Jul 2025; Albanian Daily News 15 Sep 2026).
- Charges have been formally communicated and the case referred to trial (Citizens.al, reporting SPAK announcements).
What is alleged
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- All criminal allegations listed above are SPAK accusations and have not been adjudicated.
- The alleged EUR 1 million benefit: SPAK suspicion as reported (Citizens.al).
Allegations and who made them
- SPAK alleges Veliaj committed passive corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets, abuse of office and bringing prohibited items into prison (Citizens.al, 23 Jul 2025 and 10 Sep 2025).
- SPAK alleges the Veliaj-Xoxa couple benefited from around EUR 1 million through companies and NGOs controlled or linked to Xoxa (Citizens.al, 23 Jul 2025).
- SPAK alleges Ajola Xoxa made luxury purchases worth over 86 million lek through undeclared income, tax avoidance and use of third parties to hide asset ownership (Citizens.al, 10 Sep 2025).
- SPAK alleges Klotilda Bushka obstructed the investigation (A2 News headline; body not retrieved).
Open questions
- Exact number of charges: sources give 4 categories (Tirana Times), 5 offences (Citizens.al 23 Jul 2025) and 13 charges (Citizens.al 10 Sep 2025). An '8 counts' figure was not located.
- Exact number of defendants in the main and abbreviated trials: 11 and 19 not confirmed; Citizens.al gives about 30; a search summary gives 'Veliaj and 7 other defendants' (Balkanweb headline, not fetched).
- Whether the alleged EUR 1 million figure (Citizens.al) or EUR 1.1 million (Citizens.al, 10 Feb 2025) is the correct SPAK figure.
- Current custody status of Veliaj after 15 Sep 2026.
- Outcome of the 15 Sep 2026 GJKKO hearing (not found).
- Constitutional Court full decisions (3 Nov 2025; July 2026) not retrieved.
Responses
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Erion Veliaj denies the charges, describes the evidence as fabricated and the case as politically motivated (A2 News and Albanian reporting). Quote attributed to him in Mishcon de Reya release (6 Nov 2025): 'You can imprison a person, but not their truth.' (advocacy source)
- Defence counsel (Kasowitz LLP, 14 Apr 2026): disclosed materials 'raise profound questions about the foundation of the entire prosecution' (advocacy source; DISPUTED).
Figures
Money trail →Alleged benefit to Veliaj-Xoxa couple (SPAK suspicion)
€1,000,000
otherSource label: Officially reportedStated by an official body (SPAK, a court, the Ombudsman, a prosecutor). An accusation is verified only as an accusation.Stated definition: 'Around 1 million euros' per Citizens.al (23 Jul 2025). SPAK suspicion, not a court finding. Some outlets report about 1.1 million (see next item).
Date: 23 Jul 2025 · Payer: unspecified · Payee: Erion Veliaj and Ajola Xoxa (as alleged)
- Erion Veliaj formally a defendant (23 Jul 2025) (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 23 Jul 2025 · journalism · EN
Alleged illegally obtained amount (SPAK, earlier figure)
€1,100,000
otherSource label: Officially reportedStated by an official body (SPAK, a court, the Ombudsman, a prosecutor). An accusation is verified only as an accusation.Stated definition: 'About EUR 1.1 million allegedly obtained illegally' per Citizens.al (10 Feb 2025). SPAK allegation.
Date: 10 Feb 2025 · Payer: unspecified (companies and NGOs linked to Xoxa, as alleged) · Payee: Veliaj-Xoxa couple (as alleged)
- The charges that led to the arrest of Erion Veliaj (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 10 Feb 2025 · journalism · EN
Online spending by Xoxa and family (clothing, jewellery) as alleged
€870,000
otherSource label: Officially reportedStated by an official body (SPAK, a court, the Ombudsman, a prosecutor). An accusation is verified only as an accusation.Stated definition: 'About EUR 870,000 spent online' per Citizens.al (10 Feb 2025). SPAK allegation.
Date: 10 Feb 2025 · Payer: Ajola Xoxa and family (as alleged) · Payee: online retailers (not named)
- The charges that led to the arrest of Erion Veliaj (opens in a new tab)Citizens.al · 10 Feb 2025 · journalism · EN
Berisha claim: incinerator contract cost about EUR 1 billion over 30 years
€1,000,000,000
contractSource label: UnverifiedAnonymous tip, social-media upload or a single unconfirmed report.Stated definition: Claimed by Sali Berisha (opposition leader). Berisha's own calculation per search summary. Not verified. Documented feasibility-study payments reported separately are much smaller (search summary, not fetched; not recorded here).
Date: unknown · Payer: Tirana municipality (as claimed) · Payee: Tirana incinerator operator (as claimed)
- Berisha attacks Veliaj over Tirana incinerator (Shqiptarja) (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja.com · unknown · political-statement · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
SPAK summons Veliaj (incinerator probe)
Veliaj is summoned to SPAK for the first time, in connection with the Tirana waste incinerator investigation (Tirana Times dateline). Veliaj said: 'the only thing that has connected me has been the cleanliness of this city, now exemplary in cleanliness.'
SPAK
SPAK arrests Veliaj
SPAK arrests Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on corruption and money laundering suspicion (Citizens.al, dated 10 Feb 2025, 'this afternoon'). Some outlets give 11 Feb 2025 (search summary); the 10 Feb date is better supported in fetched sources. Ajola Xoxa house-arrest request also reported. Veliaj is sent to Durrës prison.
Court
Appeals court upholds pretrial detention of Veliaj
Tirana Times reports that an appeals court upheld pretrial detention of Veliaj, rejecting his request for a more lenient measure against the GJKKO decision of 12 Feb 2025. The article's dateline is Wednesday March 12 (a search summary gives 13 March 2025). The exact decision date is not confirmed.
Court
High Court upholds pretrial detention
Tirana Times (dateline 9 Jul 2025) reports that the High Court upheld detention, confirming the Court of Appeals decision of 13 March 2025 and rejecting a request for a more lenient measure citing risk of evidence tampering. Panel: judges Medi Bici and Sokol Binaj, rapporteur Albana Boksi.
SPAK
Elman Abule charged with money laundering in Veliaj case
Citizens.al reports Abule was the first to be charged with money laundering in the Veliaj file and was under house arrest. SPAK's allegations concern about €1 million generated through companies and an NGO linked to Ajola Xhoxa.
SPAK
SPAK formally communicates charges to Veliaj
SPAK communicates charges to Veliaj at Durrës detention, after about 165 days in custody (Citizens.al). Charges against Veliaj: abuse of office, corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets, bringing an illegal item into prison. Charges against Ajola Xoxa: corruption, money laundering, concealment of assets. SPAK suspects the couple benefited from about EUR 1 million. Court extends the investigation period to September.
SPAK
SPAK sends Veliaj to trial with 13 charges
SPAK announces completion of investigations and referral of Veliaj to trial, 'in total' 13 criminal charges (Citizens.al). Around 30 individuals and entities are indicted (Citizens.al). The article names NGOs Muza, Eventus, BYL-A, Frobolous, and companies including Harabel, Rametal, Agi Kons, Palushi, Kontakt, Gerard-A, Fusha.
Court
Constitutional Court rules Veliaj dismissal unconstitutional; reinstated as mayor
As reported by Mishcon de Reya (release dated 6 Nov 2025), the Constitutional Court on 3 Nov 2025 overturned the Tirana Municipal Council's dismissal of Veliaj, which had cited his involuntary detention. Release is advocacy by counsel; the court text was not retrieved. A search summary of Balkanweb and Albanian Daily News reports the same ruling.
Court
Defence: court-ordered disclosure of evidence raises questions
Kasowitz LLP release (14 Apr 2026) says a court ordered SPAK to give Veliaj access to the evidence, and that the material raises profound questions about the case. The release says the probe reportedly began on anonymous tips from two named individuals whom it says are not in the national citizens registry. This is a defence claim.
Court
Constitutional Court remands Veliaj detention review to Supreme Court (5-3, reported)
Reported 5-3 ruling: Supreme Court must justify pretrial detention and why less restrictive measures would not suffice, taking into account elected office. Date disputed: CoE Congress report says May 2026; counsel's release is dated 6 July 2026. Source is partisan.
Court
Constitutional Court annuls Supreme Court detention review (remand)
Mishcon de Reya release (posted 6 Jul 2026) reports a second Constitutional Court ruling: the Supreme Court's review of pretrial detention failed constitutional requirements; the decision was annulled and sent back. The ruling does not order release; one concurring judge said reasonable suspicion was not established (per release). The ruling date is not given in the release.
Court
GJKKO trial hearing: Veliaj and lawyer absent; adjourned to 15 Sep
Balkanweb (21 Jul 2026): Veliaj did not attend, saying he wanted to be defended by his lawyer. Lawyer Plarent Ndreca asked for a postponement (he was in a civil case at the same hour). Ajola Xoxa did not attend, citing a medical report on childbirth; the court rejected this and proceeded in her absence. The court adjourned to 15 Sep 2026. A request to suspend the trial was also reported.
Court
Supreme Court keeps Veliaj in detention after Constitutional Court remand (reported)
Reported 15 September 2026 decision keeping Veliaj in detention and leaving in force the 13 March 2025 Special Appeals Court decision. Reported by Veliaj's counsel as 'Kafkaesque'. Court text not read.
Court
Supreme Court upholds Veliaj's custody
Albanian Daily News (15 Sep 2026) reports that the Supreme Court upheld the remand-in-custody measure. The article notes that detention decisions are not a finding of guilt and that the investigation is ongoing. Same day as the adjourned GJKKO hearing.
Connections
Court proceeding←Elman AbuleSource label: Officially reportedStated by an official body (SPAK, a court, the Ombudsman, a prosecutor). An accusation is verified only as an accusation.
charged with money laundering; sent to trial (reported)
Evidence: Citizens.al (23 Jul 2025) reports the charge; Shqiptarja reports GJKKO trial referral after the 9 Feb 2026 preliminary hearing.