The Greek Foreign Ministry has reacted regarding the decision of Vlora court to leave the candidate for the municipality of Himara, Fredi Beleri, in prison.

Through an official statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry informs that if the evidence for Beleri’s arrest is not irrefutable, then we are dealing with a scandalous case.

The statement states that decisions like this, show that Albania is not following the path of the rule of law, nor the European one.

“Today’s decision of the Vlora court, if the evidence is not irrefutable, is scandalous. The arrest of a candidate for Mayor two days before the elections does not constitute the rule of law. The decision to ban the candidate for Mayor brings a complete change in the rules of equality in the municipal elections in Himara, the most important center of the Greek national minority in Albania.

This decision will also affect the relations of the European Union with Albania, since the condition of this European path is the respect of the rules and principles of the rule of law by the candidate countries. Decisions like today’s that violate the above principles mean that in practice Albania is not following the European path,” the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement.