The rejection of the appeal against the continued detention of ethnic Greek mayor-elect of Himare, Albania, Fredi Beleri explicitly obstructs his swearing-in, the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote in a statement on its website Tuesday.
It also raises deep questions about the real goals behind his prosecution, it noted.
The Greek ministry is closely monitoring developments in the matter, it said, pointing out that what it expects now from Albania is to “respect the principle of the presumption of innocence, which is a fundamental element of the rule of law.”
Following the rejection of his appeal by a Tirana court on Tuesday, Beleri said he will appeal at his country’s Supreme Court.
Beleri, who won the mayoral race in southern Albania on May 14, remains in jail since May 12 on allegations of bribing voters.
SOURCE; ANA-MPA
