Kasowitz LLP Challenges Tirana Mayor’s Continued Detention

The Supreme Court’s September 15 decision maintains the status quo established by the Special Appeals Court in March 2025. This move follows a direct rebuke from the Constitutional Court, which had previously vacated the Supreme Court’s stance, arguing that the lower court failed to address the proportionality of the detention or the democratic consequences of stripping a city of its elected leader.

Daniel J. Fetterman, the mayor’s lead international counsel at Kasowitz LLP, described the ruling as Kafkaesque. He questioned whether the country’s constitutional protections hold any practical weight if lower courts refuse to implement corrections mandated by the Constitutional Court. Fetterman noted that beyond the procedural deadlock, some Constitutional Court members have already raised significant concerns regarding the evidentiary basis of the charges against Veliaj.

While the Supreme Court has issued a brief notice of its ruling, it has yet to provide the full written reasoning. Plarent Ndreca, Veliaj’s local legal representative, stated that the defense team is waiting for the full text to explore further remedies under domestic and international law. Despite having never faced a trial or conviction, Veliaj remains barred from his official duties, leaving a central question hanging over the Albanian judiciary: whether fundamental rights exist as enforceable safeguards or merely as abstract principles.