Fredi Beleri, the ethnic Greek mayor of an Albanian seaside town who was imprisoned on vote-buying charges, has been released on probation by a court in Fier. Beleri had six weeks remaining in his two-year prison term before his release. His arrest strained relations between Albania and Greece, with Greece threatening to impede Albania’s EU membership bid. Beleri and Athens claim his conviction was politically motivated, a claim strongly rejected by Albanian officials. Beleri, who is also a dual Albanian-Greek national, was elected to the European Parliament with Greece’s New Democracy party while in prison. His release was called a positive development by the Greek government, which noted the severity of his previous imprisonment. Beleri’s conviction led to an early election in Himarë, where the governing Socialist Party candidate won. The case against Beleri has roots in disputes over property ownership following the fall of Albania’s communist regime, with allegations of ethnic bias in land distribution. Beleri alleges that the case was an attempt by Prime Minister Edi Rama to control Himarë’s development potential. A rally to celebrate Beleri’s release has been planned in Himarë by the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority in Albania.
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Greek Minority Politician and Newly Elected MEP, Fredi Beleri, Released on Probation in Albania
