Elected Mayor of Himara Municipality, Fredi Beleri. Photo from archive.
Sept 18, 2023. Posted by Balkan
Periscope - Hellas
Tirana.
The Special
Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime has ruled to keep Fredi
Beleri, the elected mayor of Himara, in prison. Beleri was arrested two days
before the May 14 elections on charges of vote-buying.
During this Monday’s court session, Beleri requested a change in his detention status from “arrest with imprisonment”, but the court decided to maintain his imprisonment.
Notably,
Greek Ambassador Konstantina Kamitsi and Vangjel Dule, the head of the Unity
for Human Rights Party, were present at the Special Appeals Court.
On
September 14, the Special Court against Organized Crime and Corruption decided
to proceed with Beleri’s case, who had been arrested on charges of actively
participating in election corruption.
During the
preliminary hearing, the prosecutors argued that the available evidence and
facts, including audio recordings, supported the charges against Beleri.
Edmond
Dema, Beleri’s defense attorney, requested the case be dismissed, alleging that
the evidence was unlawful. However, the court deemed the Prosecutor’s
investigation to be complete, clearing the way for the judicial process to
commence.
Following
the hearing, attorney Dema expressed his bewilderment at Beleri’s continued
detention, especially now that the investigations have concluded. He stated
that no request had been made for an expedited trial.
“It will be
a protracted process as we intend to call upon numerous witnesses,” he
remarked.
Greek Prime
Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis rekindled discussions regarding the case of Fredi
Beleri.
While
addressing reporters in Thessaloniki as part of an international business fair
during the weekend, Mitsotakis stated that “bilateral relations with Albania
have been overshadowed by Fredi Beleri’s imprisonment”.
He
emphasized that Albania’s stance “undermines the significant progress achieved
over the past four years in bilateral relations”.
Mitsotakis
asserted that the elected mayor of Himara should be allowed to take the oath of
office, even if administered within the confines of a prison.
“I am not
intervening in Albanian judicial proceedings; it would be exceedingly difficult
and inappropriate for me to do so. However, preventing Fredi Beleri from being
sworn in as mayor constitutes, in our view, a clear breach of the rule of law
standards,” Mitsotakis declared.
Albanian
Prime Minister Edi Rama has consistently asserted in recent statements that the
matter concerning Himara’s elected mayor falls under the jurisdiction of
Albanian judicial authorities, and he cannot accept any external interference.
“No form of
interference in the justice system, regardless of its source, will find not
only our support but will also lack our comprehension. We do not meddle in the
affairs of the justice system. We refrain from commenting on the decisions made
by the new judiciary,” Rama affirmed.
Fredi
Beleri was apprehended just two days before the local elections on May 14.
According to the prosecution, wiretapped conversations suggest that he had
offered money in exchange for votes in his favor.
Beleri has
vehemently denied these charges, portraying them as politically motivated. His
appeals to alter his detention status have been consistently denied across all
judicial tiers.
--