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Documents - Another lie by Erion Veliaj is dismantled

2025-03-03 10:47:00, Denoncim CNA

The mayor arrested for corruption and money laundering, Erion Veliaj, continues the saga of lies and taking out of context what suits him from the SPAK file.

A day ago, Veliaj said that one of the charges he had in his file was the fact that he had shared on his social media pages photos of Preljocaj's performances, whom they themselves admit was directing the project and not his family members.

SPAK investigations/Erion Veliaj continues blackmail
March 2, 1:32 PM

Thus, Veliaj falls headlong into the hole he has dug for himself.

CNA will today bring the details of the SPAK investigative file that show the facts and evidence that Veliaj has financed his wife's NGOs, which in collaboration with other institutions have financed the show that Veliaj is talking about, the "International Contemporary Dance Festival".

According to the data appearing in the SPAK investigative file up to this stage of the preliminary investigation, it results that public funds in favor of NGOs are actually controlled by citizen Ajola Xoxa and they have not been distributed only by the Municipality of Tirana, but also by other public institutions.

This is useful for better understanding the mechanism of money transfer from public institutions to NGOs, from them to LLCs and individuals, all controlled, but also closely linked to citizen Ajola Xoxa and the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj.

THE TRUTH OF THE PROJECT “International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana”

From the controls carried out, documents were obtained that were administered by the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation, acts related to:

1) The "International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana 2022" project, which includes concluded contracts, transactions, payments and invoices.

2) The “International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana 2023” project , which includes concluded contracts, transactions, payments and invoices.

3) Contracts concluded between the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation and the company "Rametal" sh.pk, which include transactions, payments and invoices.

According to the data in the SPAK investigative file disclosed by Judge Erjon Bani, it is understood that there were two editions of the "International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana" festival in 2022 and 2023.

For the festival "International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana 2022" the organizer was the NGO "BYLA", which is owned by Ajola Xoxa. This NGO is supported with numerous funds by the Municipality of Tirana with the signature of the mayor Erion Veliaj according to the court's decision. The decision emphasizes that Ajola Xoxa at the festival "International Contemporary Dance Festival Tirana 2022" had the function of artistic director.

One of the festival's funders was the Ministry of Culture.

"On 15.09.2022, 'Balkan Youth Link Albania 2' (BYL-A) in collaboration with D18 Paris addresses the Ministry of Culture for the development of the dance festival 'International Contemporary Dance Festival in Tirana'.

On 31.10.2022, the Contract for Financial Support with Public Funds, No. 5801/6 Prot, dated 31.10.2022, was signed with the Ministry of Culture, represented by Arian AVRAZI, Director of the Department of Conception and Feasibility of Cultural Projects, and 'Balkan Youth Link Albania' with Ina Goxhaj, representative of the Center, Executive Director, in the capacity of project manager.

This contract explains the value of the financing in the amount of 3,100,000 lekë, which includes VAT, bank commissions and all fiscal obligations or other obligations recognized by Albanian legislation: Payment will be made in 2 phases: First phase 60% of the amount and Second phase: 40% of the amount. Also, electronic invoice no. 6/2022'date. 02.11.2022, with seller: 'BYL-A' and buyer: Ministry of Culture. Value: 1,860,000.00 ' lekë.

Of interest to the investigation is the involvement of citizen Ajola Xoxa in this project. Specifically, the examination has resulted in the fact that on 01.11.2022 a Service Agreement was signed between: the 'Balkan Youth Link-Albania' Center, legally represented by the Executive Director Ina Goxhaj, and citizen Ajola Xoxa. According to this agreement, citizen Ajola Xoxa, who from the acts administered in the dossier, is proven to be the de facto manager of the NGO 'BYL-A', undertakes for the latter to perform the duties of the artistic director of the 'International Contemporary Dance Festival in Tirana' festival, against the gross price of 400,000 (four hundred thousand) lek, an amount that will be paid to her bank account," the court's decision states.

From the communications it is evident that the NGO “Harabel”, effectively owned by citizen Ajola Xoxa, who turns out to be a board member, but not an executive director or a beneficial owner, roles that are covered by citizen Driant Zeneli, is organizing a gala evening at the Brigades Palace, which seems to conclude the Modern Contemporary Dance Festival, where supporters turn out to be the Municipality of Tirana, but also the NGO “BYL-A”, also effectively owned by citizen Ajola Xoxa. The support of “BYL-A” consists in paying a sum of money of 90,000 lek to citizen Ketrina Braho, this time as an individual.

The service contract in this case is interesting, because it has as its object the provision of a service as a project coordinator by the citizen Ketrina Braho, in favor of the service requester "BYL-A", to participate in the "International Contemporary Dance Festival in Tirana".

To be clearer, the service contract shows that an NGO like "BYL-A", in the factual control of citizen Ajola Xoxa, which has benefited from funds from the Municipality of Tirana, transfers a sum of money to citizen Ketrina Braho, who in turn turns out to be an employee of "OJP Harabel", also in the factual ownership of citizen Ajola Xoxa.

So, due to the complexity of the movements of money, the NGO "Harabel", which organizes the Contemporary-Modern Dance Festival, controlled by citizen Ajola Xoxa, is supported by "BYL-A" which is controlled by Ajola Xoxa and which is a beneficiary of public funds from the Municipality of Tirana, paying in this case not "Harabel" directly, but through an employee of this organization (Ketrina Braho).

The mechanism is explainable, as long as the transfer of money from an NGO like "BYL-A" to another NGO like "Harabel" would put us in a zero-sum situation, because both of these organizations are forced to make no profit.

But in the meantime, the people in question have found a solution, by transferring part of the money to an individual (Ketrina Braho), who turns out to be a historical part of "Harabel", so much so that she is also known as Keti of "Harabel". From here it is easy to reach the logical conclusion that the entire service contract signed between the parties is completely fictitious and all the benefits are coordinated by a single hand, citizen Ajola Xoxa.

Fatmir Bektashi finances Ajola Xoxa's NGOs and pays for the festival in the two editions 2022-2023.

During the statement given by citizen Adela Kondakçiu on 07.01.2025 in the capacity of a person who has knowledge of the criminal offense, regarding the sponsorships made by the company “Kontakt” sh.pk to “BYLA”-NPO, the declarant explains that the company “Kontakt” has made two such, but the first time it paid directly to Tim Newman for the first edition of the ICDF festival in 2022. While for the second edition, in 2023, “BYL-A” was paid, always with confirmation from Ajola. Then, the economist of “Kontakt” sh.pk was spoken to about the contract and the invoice, citizen Eralda Ikonomi. In this regard, it was decided that the contract should have been a cooperation agreement and not a sponsorship contract.

Also, during the communication via "WhatsApp" with citizen Ketrina regarding the company "Kontakt" sh.pk, Adela Kondakçiu continues by saying that: "even with 'Kontakt' today they are taking me for the contract, I am in the air". Ketrina replies: "They are blackmailing us with the Opera Ministry, yes: they are acting as if it is their festival. They are not even leaving us seats in the hall for our sponsors".

"Ajola ," says Ketrina, " I've never seen her more stressed."

The court decision states that from Fatmir Bektashi's statements, the company "Kontakt" had asked Erion Veliaj to be in a meeting in order to get acquainted with the project and approve it. For this reason, it indicates that it has also paid for the tickets, as well as the hotel. So, the case in question is related to the interest that Fatmir Bektashi had in the realization of the Mangalem 21 project, which had to be approved by the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. The latter has not declared this fact to the HIDAKPKI.

ERION BROTHERS' STATEMENTS

In his statements, Erion Veliaj denied being aware of his wife's NGO activities or anything else.

The file states that Veliaj has stated that he has no knowledge of the amounts of money being transferred in these companies, as he has no interest in the money. He also has no explanation regarding his wife's role in the "Harabel" organization.

But according to prosecutors, these statements contradict the evidence presented.

First, these statements are initially contradicted by the results obtained from examining the online "Instagram" page of citizen Erion Veliaj.

"From the inspection report dated 21.01.2025, compiled by the Investigator of the National Bureau of Investigation (BKH), it results that on the social network 'Instagram', at the address 'Erion Veliaj', a post made by the latter on September 20, 2023 is recorded. This post is related to the event that will be organized on 23.09.2023-22.10.2023, 'International Contemporary Dance Festival'.

This post announces that 'Harabel Contemporary', D18 Paris, 'BYL-A' in collaboration with the National Opera and Ballet Theatre (but also with the support of the Municipality of Tirana) are organizing the second edition of the festival under the artistic direction of the well-known choreographer of Albanian origin, Angjelin Preljocaj. Following the text, the calendar of performances is also published. The post contains a total of 8 photographs/advertisements/posters, one after the other.

Secondly, from the minutes of the partial inspection dated 22.01.2025 regarding the data obtained from the mobile phone of citizen Driant Zeneli, administered in the criminal file, it has resulted in summary that citizen Erion Veliaj is interested in the progress of the activity of NGOs controlled by his wife, specifically in the specific case of "Harabel", a fact that contradicts the statements of the citizen under investigation for complete ignorance about his wife's commitments, "the investigative file states.

Communications between the financier and the former director of "BYLA", Ina Goxhaj.

Ina Goxhaj jokingly asks Adela if, as the former executive director of "BYL-A", she has any tickets for the show "Workshop" by Ballet Preljocaj, which will be held at TOB on 26.09.2023.

Telling her that Erion Veliaj also mentioned her , calling the latter "Lali Eri" , Ina Goxhaj launches Adela's "Instagram" page, telling her to laugh a little.

In fact, from the "Instagram" page of citizen Erion Veliaj, it appears that the latter advertises the above show, adding that it is supported by the NGO "Harabel" of citizen Ajola Xoxa.

Even when discussing between citizens Adela Kondakçiu and Ina Goxhaj regarding a conflict that arose between "Harabel" and TKOB over ticket sales, the latter states: "Eri's the one who fixes it."

So, clearly, Erion Veliaj has been exposed to another lie, as the prosecutor has not only identified the posts on social networks, but also that the mayor is not only aware of his wife's activities but is even concerned about their progress, adding to this the fact that most of the funds, as we have previously reported from the facts in the court decision, were received by Ajola Xoxa's NGO from the Municipality of Tirana with the signature of the mayor himself./ CNA