The arrest and then the judicial process initiated by Fredi Beleri on the charge of buying and selling votes continues to produce debate and diplomatic clashes between Albania and Greece.

The spokesman of the Greek government, Pavlos Marinakis, has spoken about the further steps that the Mitsotakis cabinet will take, regarding Beleri’s case, stressing that official Athens will demand until the end the respect of European values ​​which, according to him, were not respected in the detention of Beleri.

“The position of the Albanian government, towards an elected mayor and towards the Greek minority as a whole, is not only hostile towards the Greek minority, but it is also towards the principles of the European Union and for these principles we need evidence that they are respected by the Albanian government, not only vis-à-vis Greece, but also to all member countries. And this detention (of Beleri) unfortunately proves the opposite”, said – Pavlos Marinakis, spokesman of the Greek government.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry has responded to these statements, through a press release. The ministry emphasizes that the judicial process against Beleri has nothing to do with the government and considers the attitude of the Greek government official inappropriate.

“We regretfully followed the statement of the spokesperson of the Greek Government regarding Beleri’s case. As we have continuously stated, publicly but also during the communications we have had with our Greek colleagues, such statements are inappropriate and ignore the democratic reality and the rule of law in Albania. The Government of Albania neither imprisons nor detains anyone, because Albania is a democratic country where the principle of separation of powers rules”, was the reaction of the Foreign Ministry of Albania.

This is not the first exchange of long-distance replies between Athens and Tirana on Beleri’s issue, as since the moment when the elected mayor of Himara arrested, the Greek government has described it as an attack on the Greek minority and the freedom and rights of human.