How Lawfare Waged Against Donald Trump Became a Global Playbook | Opinion
Summary
In Albania, the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, has been held in jail without a conviction for 18 months while the courts debate the legality of his detention. This case highlights the use of legal systems to sideline political opponents, a practice known as lawfare, which is now present in many countries.Key Facts
- Erion Veliaj, mayor of Tirana, Albania’s capital, was arrested in February 2025 and remains in jail without conviction.
- His detention has been extended repeatedly while courts argue about its legality.
- Albania's Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), supported by America and Europe, leads these prosecutions.
- SPAK was created in 2016 to fight corruption and improve Albania’s justice system.
- Despite reforms, Albania’s courts have a huge backlog, with up to 15 years wait for final rulings.
- Over half of Albania’s prison population is held without trial, one of the highest rates in Europe.
- The Council of Europe warns that pretrial detention leading to automatic suspension of elected officials harms democracy and fairness.
- Albania’s Constitutional Court has ruled twice in favor of Veliaj, questioning the legality of his ongoing detention.
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