Tensions Rise as Ethnic Greek Politician Released from Albanian Jail

Fredis Beleris, an ethnic Greek politician with Greek citizenship, was released from an Albanian jail amid rising tensions between Albania and Greece. Beleris was arrested during a mayoral campaign and convicted of election fraud. Greece claims the charges were politically motivated. He served 16 months in detention and was never sworn in despite winning the election.

Fredis Beleris, an ethnic Greek politician holding Greek citizenship, was released from an Albanian jail on Monday, intensifying tensions between Albania and Greece. The arrest took place in May 2023 during a mayoral election in Himare, an Albanian town with a significant ethnic Greek community. Despite winning the election, Beleris was never sworn in and was convicted of election fraud last March.

Athens maintains that Beleris' conviction was unjust, alleging political motivation behind the charges. In a show of support, Greece's ruling conservative New Democracy Party nominated him for the European Parliament, where he won a seat and took his oath in Strasbourg before returning to jail.

Relations between Albania and Greece have long been strained due to cultural and historical issues, complicated by the treatment of Albanian immigrants in Greece and the Greek minority in Albania. A court in Fier approved Beleris' early release, according to his lawyer. Beleris expressed mixed emotions in a statement, criticizing the lack of rule of law and democracy in Albania, while Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama insists the case is judicial, not political.

(With inputs from agencies.)