In its efforts to meet European Union standards, Albania has stepped up the crackdown on high-level corruption. Among the most prominent arrests is that of Erion Veliaj, the former mayor of the capital city Tirana, charged with corruption, money laundering and asset concealment.

Once a rising political star within the ruling party — with prospects that once included prime ministership — Veliaj now faces serious criminal proceedings. He has been detained for months, with prosecutors investigating a network of suspicious deals involving real estate, public tenders and companies linked to him and his family. To many, these developments show that in Albania “no one is above the law” — a message authorities hope will help restore public trust and advance EU-accession talks. But critics argue that some prosecutions may reflect political infighting rather than purely judicial motives.