TIRANA – Albania’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal filed by Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, leaving in force the decision of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Court of Appeal (GJKKO) to keep him under the security measure of “arrest in prison,” NOA.al reports.

The judicial panel decided not to accept any of Veliaj’s arguments, upholding the previous ruling that he should remain in custody pending the continuation of legal proceedings.

The decision comes only days after Albania’s Constitutional Court ruled that the case should be returned to the Supreme Court for review. Following that review, the Supreme Court decided to maintain the detention order, NOA.al informs.

Veliaj has remained in pre-trial detention since February 2025 and is facing charges that include corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office.

Through his lawyer, Plarent Ndreca, Veliaj had requested that the court replace the current “arrest in prison” measure, provided for under Article 238 of Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code, with a less restrictive measure.

Specifically, the defense asked the court to consider either a “financial guarantee” (bail), provided for under Article 236 of the Criminal Procedure Code, or an obligation to regularly report to judicial police authorities, provided for under Article 234.

In his request, Veliaj argued that a lighter security measure would be more appropriate while judicial proceedings continue. However, the Supreme Court rejected the request and ruled that the existing detention order should remain in force.