Former Albanian Health Minister Ilir Beqaj has issued his first public statement after a court replaced his prison detention with house arrest, saying he is relieved to be reunited with his family while maintaining that his prolonged pretrial detention was unjustified.

Through his lawyer, Beqaj argued that he had been held in pretrial detention without legal grounds for the past 15 months and stressed that he has not been convicted in any of the three criminal proceedings currently brought against him by Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK).

Beqaj also welcomed the opportunity to participate in future court hearings in person and to access the electronic case files, claiming those rights had previously been denied. He reiterated that investigators have found no evidence of illicit enrichment linked to his time in public office.

The former minister also responded to comments by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, saying he would address them when Berisha testifies in the upcoming trial over the surgical instruments concession case.