Greek Minister of State Stavros Papastavrou met on Tuesday afternoon at the Penitentiary Institution in Durrës in central Albania, the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, the city with a significant Greek community.
The latter was imprisoned after being accused of electoral crimes.
The visit, which lasted about an hour, comes a day before Beler’s court hearing and follows the strong support that Athens officials continues to show since his arrest, considering it a case that violates the rule of law and the neighborhood between the two countries.
In a statement to the Albanian and Greek media, the Greek minister complained that Himara is the only municipality in Europe that is run by ‘the candidate who lost the elections’, while the winner is being denied the right to be sworn in.
“Unfortunately in Himara, the decision of the sovereign on the vote is not being implemented yet. Himara is the only municipality in Europe where the losing candidate continues to lead the municipality while the elected mayor is being denied the right to be sworn in,” said Papastavru.
Papastavru is the second Greek minister, after that of Citizen Protection in September, to meet the elected mayor of Himara in Durrës prison.
Fredi Beleri has not yet been allowed to take the oath as mayor, as he was arrested two days before the May 14 local elections, in which he was subsequently declared the winner. He is on trial accused of buying votës and active corruption in elections.
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