Albania’s prison department has granted a five-day leave to an ethnic Greek minority former mayor to attend the opening session of the new European Parliament in Strasbourg. Fredis Beleris was granted leave July 15-20. He must return to serve the remaining time on his two-year prison sentence.
FILE - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks next to Fredis Beleris, left, during his visit to the ethnic Greek minority of Albania , in Himare, on Thursday Dec. 22, 2022. Fredis Beleris, an ethnic Greek politician jailed in Albania for vote-buying, says he hopes his election this month to the Europe an Parliament will help boost the rule of law in Albania .
The prison department’s statement said Fredis Beleris, 51, was granted leave July 15-20. He must stay in contact with police and return to serve the remaining time on his two-year prison sentence. Beleris, who has dual Greek and Albanian citizenship, is a member of the European Parliament. He won a Greek seat in the EU legislature in elections last month, representing the governing conservativeAlbania, a former communist country and a current NATO member, has a historically tense relationship with Greece, largely over issues of Greek minority rights and the sizable Albanian community in Greece.of offering 40,000 Albanian leks to buy eight votes in last year’s municipal election.
European Parliament lawmakers enjoy substantial legal immunity from prosecution, even if the allegations relate to crimes committed prior to their election. In the case of Beleris, that rule is unlikely to affect the outcome, as he is serving time for a crime committed in a non-EU member country., with Greece saying the case could harm Albania’s application to join the European Union. Albania, a candidate country, is in the process of negotiating full membership.
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