Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Jailed Albanian Mayor Addresses Citizens Through AI Clone
Erion Veliaj is the mayor of Tirana, Albania’s capital.
He is in jail while facing allegations of corruption and financial crimes.
A video made with artificial intelligence showed a digital version of him speaking to residents.
The video said he had been held for 20 months and could only greet people this way.
The digital mayor also promised to keep working on school meals.
The video was posted on Instagram and received more than 3,000 likes.
A court ruling led to the cancellation of planned snap elections.
The article says the next elections are expected in 2027.
An AI-generated video of Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj was posted on Instagram.
In the 17-second video, the clone says Veliaj has been held for 20 months and can only greet citizens using artificial intelligence.
The AI version promises to continue supporting school meals, even while Veliaj is in a cell.
Veliaj was arrested in February last year over allegations of corruption and financial crimes, according to the article.
Tirana’s snap elections were called off after a court ruling; the next elections are expected in 2027.
- Who
- Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, represented in the video by an AI-generated clone.
- What
- An AI-generated video addressed citizens and repeated Veliaj’s promise to support food in schools.
- When
- The video was posted on Instagram a day before the article; the article says Veliaj was arrested in February last year.
- Where
- Tirana, Albania; the video was posted on Instagram.
- Why
- The video allowed Veliaj to communicate with citizens while he was in jail.
- Mayor
- Erion Veliaj
- City
- Tirana, Albania
- Video length
- 17 seconds
- Video platform
- Video engagement
- More than 3,000 likes, according to the article
- Arrest
- The article says Veliaj was arrested in February last year over allegations of corruption and financial crimes.
- Next elections
- Expected in 2027