The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is asking for a fair and objective judgment of Freddy Beleris in the second instance, after yesterday's first instance conviction against the elected mayor of Heimarra.

However, behind Athens' careful diplomatic language is a diplomatic impasse, which is pushing Tirana even further away from Athens.

The conviction of Beleri was a discounted development and reflects the suffocating control of the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama , in Justice, as can be seen from the case of the judge of the Special Court against Corruption, who was placed there even though she was initially "cut" by the international observers.

It is a question of what Greece will do in the next period of time and at the EU level, as the decision to imprison Mr. Beleris for two years, while the process is ongoing at the appeals court where the elected mayor Heimarras will soon appeal, will prolong the pending, avoiding, of course, the most essential of the conditions set by Greece, his swearing in before the final decision.

The involvement in a case with "deep Balkan" characteristics, such as the one directed by the Rama government against Mr. Beleris, forces Athens to consume another diplomatic capital, even at a time when in the E.U. priorities are turned in another direction.

Specifically, yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that "the measurement of the sentence, so that he is not released from prison, prevents the elected mayor from assuming his duties, even today, and keeps the defeated candidate in the mayoralty, despite the explicit court decision he imposed months ago its immediate removal. The selective application of judicial decisions and the discounting of judicial judgments are not consistent with the principles of the rule of law. The Greek government will closely monitor the case and looks forward to a fair and objective judgment at the second level of jurisdiction."

During his apology yesterday, Mr. Beleris was accusatory of the Rama government, describing his trial as something "that could happen once and for all, but not in a European state in the year 2024, where officially we are not in dictatorship". Mr. Beleris focused on nine points:

First , in the glass cage in which he has been locked since the beginning of the trial. "In fact, the cage not only breaks you down psychologically, but also practically prevents communication with the lawyer," he said.

Secondly , in the principle of proportionality, which is violated since he is detained for a time (299 days) proportional to major criminals.

Thirdly , in the violation of his presumption of innocence, as he was not allowed to perform any duties other than those connected to the trial.

Reaction from Athens, which states that "it will closely monitor the case and looks forward to a fair judgment in the second degree of jurisdiction".

Fourth , to judge Irena Gioka-Spata-Manekou. "On December 24, 2002, this particular judge together with her then husband Manekos tried to enter Greece from Kakavia using a forged Greek visa with which she tried to show that she is of Greek origin. She was arrested for forgery and deported," said Mr. Beleris, underlining that "in other countries her self-exclusion would be self-evident."

Fifth , to the police-paid witness. “During the trial, we repeatedly told the court that the police have paid off the only prosecution witness. What would have happened in other European countries? The police would have been formally asked if what we said was true and proof of the witness payment would have been requested. But you never asked the police this question", he noted.

Ekton , on the forged copy of his criminal record.

Seventh , in an alleged photo of him with the prosecution witness, where it is not clear who it is.

Eighth , in the phone records, which prove that he and the only prosecution witness Arsen Rama between May 8 and 11 were in a different part of the country, therefore it is impossible that he could approach him in person.

Regarding the unequal criminal treatment, as during the Albanian municipal elections of 2023 there were four other similar cases, however, only that of Mr. Beleris resulted in the imprisonment of the elected mayor.

"The prosecution's request is obviously not aimed at justice. His sole aim is to sentence me to prison for as long as it takes the Prime Minister to hold new elections in Himarra. Mr. Prosecutor can proudly send his proposal to their political superiors, that is, to those who ordered this trial, and tell them: "My mission has been successfully completed!"" concluded Mr. Beleris.

The ND brings to the EPP the case

New Democracy added to the agenda of the political conference of the European People's Party (EPP), which is meeting in Bucharest today and tomorrow, a draft resolution in which certain suggestions are made to Tirana regarding the Beleri case. In the draft resolution there is talk of a violation of the presumption of innocence of Mr. Beleris, while "the actions of the Albanian government against a mayor belonging to an ethnic minority" are also condemned as moving against European values. The resolution also includes the firm line of Athens of the last months, based on which is the completely disparaging attitude of the people of Tirana towards "the rule of law, fundamental rights, the rights of the national Greek minority and, above all, the Community acquis , which creates a political gap between Albania and the EU". The draft also notes the decision of the Court against Corruption of Albania, where the request of Mr. Beleris to be sworn in as mayor is rejected, and it is accepted that it is problematic that his defeated opponent is still performing these debts.

(Source: Kathimerini)