Athens reacted to the news that detained elected mayor of Himara, Freddy Beleris, is being referred to the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, on charges of active corruption in elections, with complicity. His associate, Pantelis Kokavasis, is also indicted on the same charge.

According to Greek diplomatic sources, the Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the development of the case and continues to keep Greece’s international and European partners informed.

“Today’s announcement by the Albanian Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office regarding the indictment of the elected mayor of Himarra, Mr. Freddy Beleri, and one of his associates to a trial by the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, effectively prejudges the outcome of the proceedings, violating the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence which Albania, as a candidate country for accession to the European Union, must strictly observe”, it said.

“At the same time, the Albanian authorities continue to deprive Mr. Beleris of his political right to take the oath and to exercise the duties entrusted to him by the citizens of Himara. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis raised all these issues with his Albanian counterpart in a telephone conversation today”, the Greek side stressed.