Greece has from the outset expressed concerns and reservation about several aspects of the case concerning the prosecution of the elected Mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri. In particular, the reservations concerned the violation of the presumption of innocence, the nature of the evidence presented, the prejudgment of his conviction, the imposition of a disproportionate sentence and the deprivation of his right to be sworn in. Consequently, for the past year, the Municipality of Himare has been governed by individuals lacking democratic legitimacy. Today's decision by the Tirana Court of Appeals reinforces these concerns regarding the state of the rule of law and the protection of minorities in Albania.
Today Mr. Beleri is not only the elected Mayor of Himare. He is also an elected Member of the European Parliament. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Albanian authorities to take all necessary measures to enable him to attend the proceedings of the European Parliament, starting with its plenary session in July.
June 25, 2024