Although he received his mandate as the Mayor of the Himara Municipality by the Central Election Commission, Fredi Beleri will not be able to be sworn in the new duty.

The Court against Corruption and Organized Crime denied Beleri’s request to take part in the inauguration ceremony scheduled for this Tuesday.

Beleri had filed the request in three institutions, namely the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, the Directorate of Prisons and the Court against Corruption and Organized Crime, to be released from custody for the inauguration ceremony at the city’s Municipal Council on Tuesday, June 27, at 11:00.

However, the Court against Corruption and Organized Crime clarifies that such permits are granted only in cases of death, marriage or exams.

Taking the oath before the municipal council is a legal obligation of the new elected mayor and failure to fulfill it can lead to the mayoral mandate to be expired.

The ethnic Greek elected mayor was arrested only two days ahead of the May 14 elections on the basis of wiretaps revealing a third person would give him a list of names of those who would vote for him if he paid them equivalent to 45 euros.

In addition, it is alleged that Beleri promised to pay the intermediary around 300 euros, but that all transactions took place via an intermediary, rather than with Beleri himself.

Previously, Beleri had requested the Special Court of Appeals to rule the recordings made of him in private places as illegal, which subsequently led to his arrest.

According to Beleri’s lawyers, the decision that involved the operational groups in his surveillance does not have a specific start and end date and time, nor does the request for their evaluation, making it illegal.

On June 1, the Special Court upheld the decision of the Vlora Court, which imposed the imprisonment measure on Beleri, while a collaborator of his, Pandeli Kokaveshi was assigned the measure of compulsory appearance.

During the session, the lawyers also submitted new evidence regarding the health condition of the two suspects.

Kokaveshi, in addition to medical reports, requested a change in the measure due to his underage child.

Meanwhile, Fredi Beleri’s lawyers insist that there is no evidence of their client’s “crime”.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and outgoing Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias have condemned the arrest and said that if Beleri is not released, they would potentially block Albania’s EU accession path.

A week ago, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized through a statement that the refusal of Fredi Beleri’s request for release from prison, in order to assume the position as the new mayor of Himara Municipality, directly hinders his swearing-in and raises serious reflection on the true intentions behind his prosecution.

The ministry noted it is closely monitoring the developments and expects the respect for the presumption of innocence – a fundamental element of the rule of law – by the neighboring state.

However, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka have previously said the matter is not politically motivated and that it is imperative justice structures are allowed to continue their work without pressure and interference.

Fredi Beleri, a candidate of the “Together We Win” coalition was given the mayoral mandate by the Central Elections Commission, after the tight victory he scored against Socialist Party opponent and candidate Jorgo Goro.

Beleri must swear in front of the Municipal Council of Himara in order to officially carry out his mayoral duties.