Bribery & corruptionConflicts of interestCourts & justice

Tirana's mayor, charged by prosecutors with taking about €1.1 million through non-profits linked to his wife, remains in pre-trial detention while contesting his removal

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesTirana · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana

Ajola Xoxa, Wife of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj; head of non-profits charged in SPAK case

Also named

Oversight

Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK)

What happened

Albania's Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) ordered Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj's arrest on February 10, 2025, alleging he and his wife, Ajola Xoxa, illegally benefited from around €1.1 million, moved through non-profit organizations controlled by Xoxa and funded by payments from businesspeople who allegedly obtained municipal tenders and construction permits. The case now includes 13 charges, including passive corruption, money laundering, concealing assets and abuse of office. Xoxa faces parallel charges. The Tirana council dismissed him in September 2025 at Prime Minister Edi Rama's request, but the Constitutional Court ruled the dismissal unconstitutional in November 2025. Albania's High Court on September 15, 2026 ruled he should remain in pre-trial detention. He said he would run the city from detention. Veliaj and Xoxa deny all charges and have not been convicted.

By the numbers (1)

● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported

Figures

○

Albania's SPAK suspects Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj and his wife Ajola Xoxa of illegally benefiting from around EUR 1.1 million moved through non-profits controlled by Xoxa; Veliaj has denied the accusations.$1.3M

Erion VeliajSource documents only Veliaj's denial.

1 source

Citizens.al — The charges that led to the arrest of Erion VeliajSPAK suspects the couple illegally benefited from around EUR 1.1 million, moved through non-profits controlled by Xoxa.

Sources (3)

Balkan Insight (BIRN)SPAK accuses him of corruption, money laundering, and concealment of wealth... transferring public funds to NGOs de facto run by his wife, Ajola Xoxa... his lawyer, Plarent Ndreca, called the ruling 'an extremely concerning development for the rule of law.' Both Veliaj and his wife deny all accusations.

Balkan InsightErion Veliaj was dismissed as Tirana mayor... following a request from Prime Minister Edi Rama... both the ruling Socialist Party and opposition Democratic Party voted together to remove him.

Citizens.alSPAK suspects the couple illegally benefited from around EUR 1.1 million, moved through non-profits controlled by Xoxa.

Response

Erion Veliaj

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

Ajola Xoxa

Not yet contacted

Not yet contacted for this story.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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