The Greek daily Kathimerini described Fredi Beleri’s arrest as a decision of Rama’s government and not of justice.

The imprisonment of Fredi Beleri, the elected mayor of Himara, could turn into a serious obstacle for Albania’s integration into the European Union and a turning point in Greek-Albanian relations.

This was the message that official Athens wants to convey not only to Tirana but also to the international community, while the next step is the letter that the Greek foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, is expected to send to his EU counterparts, to explained why Fredi Beleri’s arrest is in violation of the law.

The spokesman of the Greek government, Pavlos Marinakis, has also stated that the “Beleri” issue is considered a “high priority issue” for Athens.

“Albania must respect the elementary rules of the rule of law and it is an issue in which our country will continue to act with absolute priority because we must protect the rights of the minority, as well as a legally elected mayor” he stated.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself raised this issue at the last European Union Summit in Brussels, presenting the situation to his counterparts, while the Greek Foreign Minister presented the issue to Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varkheli, as well as to the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of European Parliament, David McAllister.