Beleri, a member of Albania’s Greek ethnic minority, is serving a two-year prison sentence for buying votes in the municipal elections in the town of Himare in which he was elected mayor. He will leave prison to collect the report from him.
Mayor imprisoned Greek Fredi Beleri has temporarily left the Albanian prison where he was serving his sentence to swear in as MEP in Strasbourg, according to the state public radio television ‘ERT’.
The vice president of the European ComissionMargaritis Schinas, praised the news this Friday, writing on the social network right to vote and be elected “It is a key element of any privileged State.”
“This fact justifies that Fredi Beleri officially takes possession of his position and participates in the European Parliament votes next week in Strasbourg“says the post.
Why was Greek MEP Fredi Beleri imprisoned?
Beleri, member of Albania’s ethnic Greek minorityis serving a prison sentence until October for buying votes in municipal electionsas alleged by the Albanian prosecutor’s office.
Beleris was elected mayor of the Albanian city of Himare in 2023, but he was stripped of the title of mayor in early July 2024. A month earlier, in June, Beleris, 52, was elected deputy to the European Parliament by the Greek center-right New Democracy party.
The Albanian Court of Appeals confirmed the sentence to two years in prison imposed on Beleris, which exacerbated tensions with the neighboring Greece.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has stated that the Beleris case “raises several questions regarding the fundamental principles of the rule of law” not Albania.
The politician will return to Albanian prison after the investiture session in the next week.
Additional sources • Enrique Barrueco (Voice-over)
