Fredi Beleri Takes Oath as EU Lawmaker Amidst Vote-Buying Conviction

Ethnic Greek politician Fredi Beleri temporarily left an Albanian jail to take his oath as a European Parliament lawmaker. Arrested in May 2023 on vote-buying charges, Beleri’s case has strained Albania-Greece relations. Despite winning a mayoral election, he has been detained and will return to jail on July 20.

Fredi Beleri, an Ethnic Greek politician, left an Albanian jail on Monday to travel to Strasbourg for his European Parliament induction, before returning to serve his sentence on vote-buying charges. Beleri, a member of Greece's conservative New Democracy Party, left in a diplomatic car from the Greek embassy.

Arrested in May 2023 during a mayoral election campaign in Himare, Beleri won the vote but was not sworn in due to his pre-trial detention. Convicted of election fraud, he is now serving a two-year sentence issued in March. Beleri stated he would travel to Athens before going to Strasbourg for his parliamentary duties.

The case has strained Albania-Greece relations, already complicated by historical and cultural differences. Beleri has accused Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama of plotting against him, a claim Rama denies, asserting the matter is judicial, not political. The situation leaves open questions on how Beleri will fulfill his European Parliament role while incarcerated.

(With inputs from agencies.)