The preliminary court date for the case against the elected but unsworn mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri, has been set for Thursday, one day before the time limit for him to take office expires.
Beleri, an Albanian ethnic Greek running in the southern municipality of Himare, home to an ethnic Greek minority, was arrested on suspicion of vote buying two days before the April local elections. Running under an opposition coalition banner, he won by a handful of votes but has not been able to take the swearing-in oath due to his incarceration.
Several attempts to change the security measure from arrest in prison, or to allow him to swear in either in person or via notary in prison, have been denied.
The Special Prosecutor in the Court Against Organised Crime and Corruption has accused him of “electoral corruption” based on allegations he gave money to eight citizens to vote for him in the election. He will be expected to appear for a preliminary hearing in court on Thursday.
Beleri denies the charges and claims his arrest and incarceration is political and wiretaps carried out on him were illegal.
Athens and the Albanian opposition have reacted strongly to the arrest with accusations of violations of the rule of law, democratic values, and minority rights flying, along with claims the arrest is politically motivated.
Greek politicians have even threatened to halt Albania’s EU accession path or suspend funding, leading to frustration in Tirana.
They have demanded his release and that he be allowed to take the oath, or else new elections may be called.
Meanwhile, the Albanian government maintains that this is a matter of justice and the courts are able to do their work without political or external influence.
(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com)
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