Opinion
A prison transfer should not be a secret beyond scrutiny
The prison service says Erion Veliaj's move to Fier was lawful. The best way to prove it is to let an independent institution see the order.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 29, 2026, 16:35 · Updated 18:43 · 2 min read
Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, who is in pretrial detention, is refusing food in Fier prison, Top Channel reports, in protest at his transfer from Durrës, which his circle calls undocumented. The General Directorate of Prisons says the transfer was carried out in line with the law, that prosecutors were notified and that the order is classified as a “state secret.” According to the directorate, 24 transfers were carried out between Oct. 16 and 27, all within the legal framework.
The prison administration has a legitimate need to move detainees when it assesses security risks, and some details cannot be made public in advance. Veliaj should not get special treatment because he is a public figure. But he should not get worse treatment either: he is a detainee, not a convict, and the presumption of innocence applies to him as to anyone.
The problem is that the “state secret” label on an administrative decision, taken by the director general within his discretion, makes it impossible for anyone outside the administration to verify its basis. The questions are not coming only from the opposition. According to Top Channel's sources, Socialist lawmaker Bledi Çuçi asked Justice Minister Toni Gogu for the transfer letter; Taulant Balla did not deny the debate but said it stays behind closed doors. On the Municipal Council, Socialist Party (PS) and Democratic Party (PD) councilors jointly demanded transparency.
Caution is needed on the other side, too. Refusing food is a form of pressure, and the claims of Veliaj's circle are still claims. The directorate says staff at the Fier prison met him, heard his complaints and explained his rights. This case should not be turned into a political symbol before the facts are verified, either by his supporters or by his opponents.
Our proposal: the Ombudsman, to whom Socialist councilor Eridian Salianji proposed that the Municipal Council turn, should get full access to the transfer order and file and publish a conclusion within a week, without revealing security details. The detainee and his lawyer should receive the reasons for the transfer in writing, even if some parts are redacted. And the prison service should publish the number of transfers and the category of reasons every month. Secrecy protects security only when someone independent checks it.
