TIRANA, August 11 – The Greek deputy of the “New Democracy” party, Angelos Syrigos, met Fredi Beleri in detention on Friday. In a statement to the media, he stated that it is not right not to swear as it is a violation of civil rights.
“I know the accusations, there are accusations of corruption in local elections. But this case is the only one of the others. He was imprisoned, but the Albanian government did not allow him to be sworn in as mayor. This is a violation of civil rights. Out of 31 cases investigated in Albania for election corruption, only Beleri is in jail,” said Syrigos in a press conference on Friday.
Greece has not ignored the case of the mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, who continues to remain behind bars since his arrest two days before the May 14 elections.
In addition to the draft resolution that was accepted in the European Parliament after a joining of forces between the opposition MPs and the Greek majority, a number of Hellenic officials have come to Albania during these months to meet Beleri in prison.
Fredi Beleri was arrested two days before he was voted in by the citizens of Himara as the new mayor of the coastal city. The investigation was started by the Prosecutor’s Office of Vlora on May 8 with suspicions that the electoral headquarters of the coalition candidate “Bashke Fitojme” (Together we win) was distributing money in exchange for votes.
Beleri has repeatedly denied the accusations, pointing the finger at the SP and Prime Minister Edi Rama as the organizers of a political attack against him.
Meanwhile, he has been defended by official Athens, which in harsh tones has threatened Albania with an obstacle in the EU membership process. /argumentum.al
