Tirana mayor to challenge detention at European rights court

Lawyers for detained Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj say they will challenge his continued pre-trial detention at the European Court of Human Rights.

The defence plans to file the case in Strasbourg in September, arguing that Veliaj’s detention and parts of the legal process have violated his rights.

British lawyers met him in prison for the first time after eight months of requests. American lawyers working on the case have still not received permission from SPAK, Albania’s special prosecution office, to see him.

Veliaj’s legal team wants him released and allowed to return to office while proceedings continue in Albania.