Greek MEP Fredy Beleris has been released on parole from an Albanian prison where he was serving a sentence for vote-buying in municipal elections.
A member of the Greek community in Albania was found guilty and given a two-year sentence. His trial greatly complicated relations between Tirana and Athens. Now, writes Euronews, The elected mayor of the Albanian city of Himara, ethnic Greek Fredi Beleris, has been released from prison after a court in the city of Fier granted his request for parole.
The 51-year-old politician's prison term was set to expire in October. Investigators claimed that Beleris had offered some 40,000 Albanian lek (360 euros) to individuals in exchange for eight votes. Greece has called the case politically motivated and even threatened to block Albania's membership application. EU.
In June, while in prison, Beleris, who holds both Greek and Albanian citizenship, was elected to the European Parliament from Greece's ruling New Democracy party.. He even released for five days to Strasbourg to take the oath, after which he returned to the correctional facility.
When Beleris went to prison, early elections were held in Himara, which were won by the Albanian Socialist candidate. The politician himself claimed that the case against him was fabricated at the behest of Prime Minister Edi Rama, in order to maintain control over the city, which is experiencing a tourist boom.
More Stories
Greek private and public sector unions announce nationwide strikes
Greece: Threat of Demographic Collapse (Video)
Greece criticizes Germany's introduction of border controls