The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted regarding the decision taken this Tuesday at the GJKKO (Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime ) for Fredi Beleri.

Through a post on its official website, it states that the decision to sentence the elected mayor of Himara to two years in prison is clearly disproportionate in relation to the extent of the alleged crime.

The ministry’s post also states that the selective enforcement of court decisions and the discounting of court decisions are not in line with the principles of the rule of law while adding that the Greek government will closely monitor the case.

“Today’s sentence by an Albanian court against the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, adds to the concerns raised about the objectivity of the process.

And this is because the presumption of innocence is shaken due to external statements and actions that defended the punishment and since the final punishment is clearly disproportionate to the extent of the alleged offense.

The measure of punishment, not to get out of prison, prevents the elected mayor from taking office even today and keeps the defeated candidate in the mayor’s office, despite the express decision of the court months ago that decided his immediate dismissal.

The selective enforcement of court decisions and the discounting of court decisions are not in accordance with the principles of the rule of law. The Greek government will closely monitor the case and will wait for a fair and objective judgment at the second level of jurisdiction,” written on the post of the Greek Foreign Ministry.