Court orders new review of Tirana mayor’s detention

Albania’s Constitutional Court has overturned a Supreme Court decision and ordered a new review of the detention of Tirana’s elected mayor.

The case concerns Erion Veliaj, who won the mayoral mandate directly from voters.

The Constitutional Court said the Supreme Court had not properly examined whether detention was proportionate for someone holding elected public office.

It also said the ruling failed to assess alternatives to detention or address the impact on the mayor’s right to exercise his mandate.

The decision also refers to the rights of Tirana voters to be governed by the person they elected.

The case now returns to the Supreme Court for review.