Beleri remains in prison: Albanian Court of Appeal upholds two-year sentence
Beleri has been in custody since May 12, 2023 and according to this decision, he will remain in prison until October. As an elected MEP the question now arises as to whether he will be allowed to attend the first session in Brussels in July for the European Parliament of which he is an elected member.
Following the completion of the court proceedings, Greece's Ambassador to Albania Konstantina Kamitsi made the following statement to the media: "With today's decision of the Court of Appeal, the trial of the elected Mayor of Himare by Albanian justice is concluded.
Unfortunately, many aspects of this case raise questions regarding the objectivity of the proceedings, such as the violation of the presumption of innocence, the prolonged pre-trial detention of Beleri, the disproportionate final sentence in relation to the alleged offense and the refusal to grant an oath. Despite the wishes of the people of Himare as expressed through the electoral process, the municipality is still governed by individuals who were not elected by the constituency.
Greece's priority has always been respect for the rule of law, respect for democratic procedures and the protection of minority rights, which are fundamental principles of the European Union. Beleri is now officially an elected member of the European Parliament. It is an absolute democratic requirement and a requirement of the rule of law that elected MEPs have the opportunity to attend in person to all the work of the European Parliament starting from the plenary in July."
FM: Tirana Court decision on Beleri confirms concerns on rule of law and minority rights in Albania
Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored its concerns about the rule of law and minority protection in Albania following the Tirana Court of Appeal's decision on Fredi Beleri. The court upheld a two-year prison sentence against the elected mayor of Himare and New Democracy's elected MEP.
"Greece has consistently expressed apprehensions regarding various aspects of Fredi Beleri's judicial prosecution" the Ministry stated. These concerns include the presumption of innocence violation, the nature of evidence, premature conviction, disproportionate sentencing and denial of his right to oath-taking, resulting in a year-long administration of Himare by individuals lacking democratic legitimacy.
The Ministry emphasized that the Tirana Court of Appeal's ruling reinforces these concerns regarding Albania's adherence to the rule of law and minority safeguarding.
"Beleri isn't solely Himare's elected mayor but also a European Parliament Member," the Ministry highlighted. "Thus, it is incumbent upon Albanian authorities to ensure he can participate in European Parliament proceedings commencing with its July plenary session."
AMNA- Photo:SKAİ
