The Greek candidate for the municipality of Himara in Northern Epirus, Albania, Freddy Beleris remains in prison, as decided by the Avlona Court, after his arrest yesterday on charges of attempting to “buy” votes ahead of the municipal elections in Albania.
As it became known, the court rejected the request for injunctive measures filed by the side of the candidate mayor of Himara, while the same sources report that he will be sent to the prisons of Tirana.
Outside the court, Beleris’ lawyer emphasized that “no vote buying was proven, the court accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation. This is a purely political decision that reminds us of the old communist regime. The decision was taken by Prime Minister Edi Rama. It does not weaken the electoral process, on the contrary it strengthens it”.
The Greek Ambassador to Albania, Konstantina Kamitsi, was also in court to express her support for Beleris.
In the meantime, the judicial body will announce the decision for Pantelis Kokavesis in the Tirana hospital, where he was transferred due to problems with his heart. The Albanian media report that before being taken to the court, Beleris also sought medical help, due to complications with diabetes.
On Friday evening, a huge demonstration took place in the center of Himara, planned for the completion of the pre-election period, in the absence of Beleris who continues to be arbitrarily detained by the Albanian authorities.
The massive presence of the people testifies that the city’s indigenous ethnic Greek minority rallied even more around the Beleris candidacy, despite the Rama government’s tactics that harken back to other times.
The crowd did not stop shouting slogans in favor of Freddy Belleris, while a particularly moving moment was when his daughter, Hermione, addressed the crowd closing the event.
“We decide for the best future for our country. Now the time has come to change everything, the time has come to bring the best future. We all have a reason because Himara is us”, said the 17-year-old daughter of Freddy Beleri.
In the meantime, the position of the former close associate of Edi Rama and Minister of Justice (2015-2017) Ili Maniani, for the provocative arrest of the candidate mayor of Himara Freddy Beleris, is causing a sensation.
With his comment on social media, he publicly criticizes the Albanian government, directly stating that the arrest of Beleri was pre-planned by the Rama government.
“And he was arrested red-handed, but he was also a suspect!!! If he was caught in the act of giving money, who did he give this money to?! Why was the recipient of the money not immediately arrested? How much money did he give? Where is the money as material evidence of a criminal act? If money has been given, why is it tied to votes when the elections haven’t started yet?” asks Mr. Maniani, continuing in a scathing tone: “For God’s sake don’t tell us that you arrested him because he promised!!! Oooh, State Judicial Police! By what order do you justify the police pursuit of the candidate?! No reference. Just abusive interference. Letters that say ‘I ‘ll put you in jail, full stop’. Look carefully what a disaster these official letters are by which they deprive people of their liberties in this country. No evidence, no proof to understand the alleged arrest. Just guesswork and meaningless suggestions”.
And the former Minister of Justice concludes by saying that if he voted in Himara, he would support the Beleris candidacy. “I repeat, it is claimed that he was arrested in the act! But no concrete evidence, or at least no reference to any event taking place. Never! This is yet another fatal evidence that shows that the state and the government are under the influence of Edi Rama. Nothing to do with political independence, the constitution and the law! If I were a resident of Himara, I would vote for Freddy Beleris”.
