Salianji: ‘They want me out of parliament, the Constitutional Court has already decided! I will take the case to Strasbourg’

Former Democratic Party MP Ervin Salianji reacted ahead of the Constitutional Court’s decision on his case, claiming that the ruling has been made in advance and that his request will be rejected. Salianji has turned to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Appeal Court’s verdict, which sentenced him to one year in prison.

In his reaction, the former MP claims that the judicial process against him is political and that the aim is to keep him away from local elections.

“The Constitutional Court cannot rise to the constitutional level! I cannot put on a theater like many others! Decisions in the Constitutional Court are made long before they formally convene, with the false solemnity of a procedure everyone knows how it ends. Today’s decision has also been made. I am communicating it to you in advance,” Salianji says.

He accuses the Constitutional Court judges of keeping the case pending for nearly two years and claims that the delay has also affected his ability to turn to the European Court of Human Rights.

“I have not been convicted as a criminal, but as an opponent of the regime, as a denouncer of the most powerful criminal groups and to keep me away from electoral battles. Today’s scheduled trial is for the same purpose: to keep me away from local elections,” he declares.

Salianji describes the process as a test for the Constitutional Court, accusing the institution of being politically influenced.

“Today should not have been just a court session for my case. It should have been a moment of proof for the Constitutional Court. It should have been the day when the Constitution spoke louder than the power of the autocratic regime,” the former MP says.

He also mentions other people involved in political processes or debates and declares that, in his view, justice in Albania continues to be influenced by politics.

“This is not justice that rises above politics. This is justice that remains hostage to politics,” says Salianji.

The former Democrat MP emphasizes that he is not asking for special treatment, but a process that, in his view, is fair and independent.

“I do not ask and have never asked for privilege. I do not ask for special treatment. I have only asked for what should be the foundation of every democratic state: a fair trial, independent and far from any political influence,” he says.

At the end of his reaction, Salianji warns that he will turn to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if his request is not accepted.

“But today the battle does not close. Today the road opens for the battle in Strasbourg. There we will take the truth of this case and everything that has happened,” he declares.

Salianji says he will not withdraw from the political battle and links his case to his claim of confronting what he calls a system in which political power and criminal groups have influence over institutions.

“Today is the next act in which the Constitutional Court shows that it is the guarantor of the regime!” the former Democrat MP concludes.