Fredi Beleris has gone on the offensive. Shortly after the announcement of the Court of Appeal’s guilty verdict, which imposed a 24-month prison sentence on him, he launched an attack against Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who orchestrated step by step, what he described as coup-like tactics against him.

Referring to a “parody of justice,” the elected MEP states in his announcement: “I have already begun the process of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and I am confident that the justice which was not delivered by the Rama regime, will be served there.”

“Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for the Hellenism of Northern Epirus, my presence in the European Parliament—thanks to the determination of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the support of the Greek people—guarantees that the fight for democracy and the rule of law will continue,” he states.

At the same time, he characterized the Albanian Prime Minister as an authoritarian leader, noting that “those who harbored illusions that Rama would act as a leader of a country wanting to join the European family and not as yet another authoritarian leader have been disillusioned.”

“As far as I am concerned, my position is clear. Just as I have not been deterred over the past 14 months, I will not be deterred now, for the remaining 3-4 months. From now on, Edi Rama will have the problem, not me. In the end, light always triumphs over darkness,” he concluded.

The full statement by Fredi Beleris:

“The decision of the Court of Appeal was expected, as the coup-like tactics against me had been planned at every step by the Albanian Prime Minister himself.

One thing, however, is certain: the parody of justice with a prosecution witness who confessed that he was paid by the Albanian police to perjure, a judge banned from entering Greece due to document forgery, and a court president who was appointed and not drawn by lot, does not end here. I have already begun the process of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg and I am confident that the justice which was not delivered by the Rama regime, will be served there.

With my conviction, Edi Rama achieved his goal of preventing me from taking office as the elected Mayor of Himara, so that he could carry out his plans and seize the properties of the Greeks in the area.

Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for the Hellenism of Northern Epirus, my presence in the European Parliament—thanks to the determination of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the support of the Greek people—guarantees that the fight for democracy and the rule of law will continue.

Those who harbored illusions that Rama would act as a leader of a country wanting to join the European family and not as yet another authoritarian leader have been disillusioned.

As far as I am concerned, my position is clear. Just as I have not been deterred over the past 14 months, I will not be deterred now, for the remaining 3-4 months. From now on, Edi Rama will have the problem, not me.

In the end, light always triumphs over darkness.”