Appeal at the Constitutional Court: Salianji accuses the judicial panel of dragging the case for two years, vows to take it to Strasbourg

Former Democratic MP Ervin Salianji has reacted publicly ahead of the Constitutional Court’s announcement of its decision on the appeal of his sentence, describing the process as a politically influenced attempt to keep him away from electoral races and local elections.

In an official statement, Salianji claimed the judicial panel’s decision was predetermined and that the review of his file was artificially dragged out for almost two years in order to delay his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He stressed that the expected negative ruling from the Constitutional Court does not close his legal battle — on the contrary, it opens the way for pursuing the case through the levels of international justice.

“The Constitutional Court cannot rise to the constitutional level. I cannot stage theatre like many others; decisions are made long before they formally convene. Judges of this court have held this case hostage for almost two years to drag out the appeal to Strasbourg. I was not convicted as a criminal, but as an opponent of the regime, as a whistleblower of the most powerful criminal groups, and to keep me out of electoral battles. The trial scheduled today serves the same purpose: to keep me away from local elections,” Salianji declared.

The former MP said he has not asked for special treatment or privileges, only a fair legal process, while levelling strong accusations at the members of the judicial panel for compromising their independence under the pressure of political power.

“Today the battle does not close; today the road to the battle in Strasbourg opens. There we will bring the truth of this case and everything that has happened. I am not afraid and have no personal emotion about the decision. Another blow from a system that has long shown how far it is willing to go to hit its opponents does not scare me. I will continue to fight for an Albania where gangs do not make the law and power is not above the law,” Salianji concluded.