Albanian authorities arrest Greek minority candidate for mayor of Himara

Fredi Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the municipality of Himare, and two others were arrested by Albanian special forces on Thursday at midnight.

The arrest was made on charges of alleged “buying votes”.

The reaction of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which sent a demarche to the Albanian Foreign Ministry, and a telephone contact between Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and Prime Minister Edi Rama were immediate.

The Greek minority organizations in Albania, OMONIA and KEAD, reacted strongly to what they considered an unprecedented attack against Albanian Hellenism.

Fredi Beleri, president of the local branch of OMONIA, runs in the municipal elections in Himarra as a candidate for mayor, supported by both the Human Rights Union (KEAD) and OMONIA parties, as well as an opposition coalition led by the Democratic Party of Sali Berisha and the Freedom Party of the former president of the republic Ilira Meta.

On his way to the elections, Fredi Beleri was reportedly heavily attacked by parts of the Albanian press, as well as Prime Minister Edi Rama himself. Just a few hours before his arrest, Rama allegedly told one of the TV channels that the day after the election he would “personally settle” with Beleri.

Despite initial information that Beleri was temporarily released on Friday morning, he is ultimately still in custody at the Vlore police station where he was transferred, Greek state news agency amna reported earlier in the day. Beleri was not taken to the police station in Himare, but to the police station in Vlore, which is a few kilometers away. No criminal charges have been reported so far.

PS I wonder if the statements of the European Commission or Mr. Borel will be followed up on human rights violations and political repressions in Albania. Oh, yes, sorry, “it’s different.”

Source link