) EU Reporter) publishes Erion Veliaj's mother's letter: Arresting my son without charges, challenge to European justice and values

Through the letter, she points out that Veliaj has been kept in custody for five months without evidence and without a fair legal process. Eagle Veliaj stresses that the problem is not only her son's, but that of many Albanians suffering from long detention without final judicial decision, destroying lives and careers.

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Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has been in custody for 5 months without any official charges, while the SPAK investigation follows. He was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Unit in February, following corruption charges he denies. So far, no concrete evidence has been presented to him, and no official charges have been filed, yet Veliaj continues to be held in custody throughout this process.

His international lawyers, from the Miscon de Reya and Kasowitz firms, have been denied the right to visit.

The decision to extend his detention has been taken by the Special Court without a deepening review of the need, the size or reasonableness of this detention, and without a serious assessment of alternatives to him.

Although Erion Veliaj and his family express support for the SPAK mandate, his protracted ban reflects a broader and disturbing phenomenon in Albania -- about 60% of detainees in the country are held in prison without a final judicial decision.

Why is Europe eyeing an open violation of values on which the EU is built?

By Albania Veliaj, the mother of Erion Veliaj, Tirana Mayor

About four months ago, my family was suddenly involved in a skull nightmare. In a day that seemed quite common in February, my son Erion, mayor of Tirana three times in a row who has made an extraordinary contribution to the revival of the capital, was arrested by the SPAK by the independent anti-corruption institution. The arrest was based on anonymous police claims by a flammable person almost two years ago. Claims that my son denies them officially.

Since that day, he has been kept in conditions that approach with complete isolation, though no official charges have been filed against him. His approach to his international lawyers has also been denied. His extended prison prevents him from exercising his functions as Mayor Baskie, entrusted by the citizens of Tirana through the vote.

It is important to see the wider context. Albania is on its way to becoming a member of the European Union, possibly until 2030. As a proud Albanian, I see this as a great achievement for all of us. It will bring prosperity, more tourism and employment opportunities, and will bring more stability and co-operation on security and defence issues.

One of the most important conditions for membership is rule of law and fighting corruption. It is not a secret that Albania has had many problems to fix in this direction. I've seen Albania leave communism, from a time when people disappeared from state police and lived in fear.

The SPAK's role has been essential to combat corruption, reform justice and improve judicial performance. But now it seems that the SPAK is exercising broad power with very little control. My family fully supports the need to investigate any allegations of mismanagement or corruption. Corruption in Albania must be fought directly, and fighting institutions must be empowered. No one should be above the law my son or any other official.

But at the same time, no one regardless of the function should be held in prison without charges, without regular legal process, without transparency and without access to lawyers.

Why, then, are EU institutions and member states closing their eyes, while one of the most visible and democraticly elected figures in Albania is being held in prison without charges? Isn't this a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (KEDNJ)?

My family is suffering greatly from this situation. But we are not alone. This way now arrest him and gather evidence later happened with Thomas Glahch, and in his case the European Court of Human Rights ruled that his detention was illegal. Thousands of Albanians are held in custody, and the percentage of detainees in prisons is much higher than the European average. Sometimes people hold on for years. This characteristic of the Albanian judicial system destroys lives and careers. Anti-corruption organs must act with higher investigative standards, avoiding theatre arrests that could later be considered illegal by higher courts unless the legal process is followed.

This is not what reform in justice should represent. The SPAK has made real progress, but that progress should be measured not only with arrests, but with fair judgments, independent courts and human rights protection.

The noted civil rights lawyer and activist, Dorian Matlija, has described briefly: “in Albania to put you in jail earlier, then collect evidence.” The system jails people, then tries to justify the decision. If not enough evidence, courts often condemn, however, to justify months of detention.

European leaders should not remain silent only because on paper, the Narrativa of Albania's progress seems good. Institutions can be created, laws can be written, but they must be implemented fairly. In this case, the legal process is being ignored. The rights are breaking. And the credibility of the Albanian judicial system is at stake.

This has nothing to do with protecting my son from accountability. He is only one of many individuals affected by this systemic problem in Albania. This has to do with the protection of fundamental principles that constitute the basis of democracy: presumption of innocence, the right to freedom, the obligation to accuse or release, and the human treatment of all detainees, without political distinction.

As an Albanian citizen, I want my country to treat people fairly. As Erion's mother, I want to know that my son will be treated with dignity. /Periscopi/