Fredi Beleri, mayoral candidate from the “Together We Win” coalition was arrested last night. He is accused of vote buying. Beleri was in his restaurant in Himara, when police came to escort him. This is the moment of his arrest.
He was sent to the police station of Vlora, alongside two other persons (including his lawyer). Beleri remains in prison, while the other two are now free. One of the arrested is said to have experienced health issues, so he was taken to the hospital shortly after being arrested.
Last night, PM Edi Rama accused Beleri of trying to manipulate the vote, by engaging his people to threaten Albanian immigrants in Greece to vote for him on the May 14th elections. Rama even named the two persons involved in the intimidation attempt and warned he would personally deal with them.
Meanwhile, Vangjel Dule, the head of the Unity for Human Rights Party told Euronews Albania that Beleri had been escorted to the police station without any notice beforehand. He accused PM Rama for ordering the arrest.
“It is absurd. Beleri was escorted without a notice, like some sort of kidnapping and hostage-taking. We still don’t know who issued the mandate for his escort. I was told that the notice I received came from the Special Anti-Corruption Structure. Meanwhile, the highest police authorities told me it came from the Prosecutor’s Office in Vlora. Edi Rama is behind this act. I accuse him for enticing hatred and for intimidating citizens,” Dule told Euronews Albania.
Fredi Beleri came under fire from many political sides and more, as he had previously told Greek media that he would “hellenise Himara” in case he is elected mayor.
The Greek Ambassador to Albania Konstantina Kamitsi had a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning, to express concerns regarding this arrest. Sources tell Euronews Albania that Kamitsi didn’t meet with Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka, but only with one of the representatives in charge of Greece-related cases. The Greek Embassy is expected to submit a note of protest, by orders of the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.
