Greek MEP Manolis Kefalogiannis was in Himara this Tuesday, where he met with citizens and supporters of Fredi Beleri.

In his position as the Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Stabilization-Association EU-Albania, Kefalogiannis called for the release of the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri.

“Throughout the communications I have had with him, Fredi Beleri told me he will not give up, will not take a step back. He will fight for the rights of Himara citizens, who deserve all this sacrifice. Beleri also told me he is ready to stay in prison for as long as it takes, to represent the citizens’ interests and when justice wins and he is released, he will be ready to be the citizens’ mayor,” Kefalogiannis told media.

The Greek MEP warned the Albanian government that the way it is handling this issue, will affect the country’s European Union integration.

“The case of Himara is no longer a national case, it has become bigger than that. It is no longer a case we can discuss with the Albanian government; it is now a European case. As such, it will be handled so. For a country like Albania, which is on its way to become an EU member state, Greece has a lot of influence in the European Council, where it gives its opinions on how these cases should be treated, as well as Albania’s path to the EU,” the MEP warned.

The Greek Ambassador to Tirana Konstantina Kamitsi, as well as Omonia’s chair Vasil Kajo, and Beleri’s son, Petro accompanied the Greek MEP in this visit.

Fredi Beleri was elected mayor of Himara in the May 14 local elections in Albania, despite being imprisoned.

Accusations by the Special Prosecution Office for “active corruption in elections” committed in collaboration led to his arrest only a few days ahead of the elections.

Wiretaps revealed a third person would give Beleri 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.