Fredi Beleri, the newly elected Member of the European Parliament on the New Democracy ticket in the June elections this year, was freed from a prison in Albania on Monday morning, after a ruling by a first instance Court.
Beleri, an Albanian citizen of Greek origin, was serving a two-year prison sentence in Albania on charges of illegally soliciting votes during the municipal elections in Himare in southern Albania. He was accused of buying votes, an allegation he, his supporters, and even the Greek government have said was a politically motivated prosecutorial and judicial miscarriage of justice.
The MEP, after expressing his gratitude for being released from prison, told the press he would launch an appeal at the European Human Rights court.
The court ruled that there are grounds for his release, deciding the only restrictive condition would be his communication with Albanian police authorities a few times a month, given that he needs to be in Brussels to perform his duties.
Following the decision of the First Instance Court in Fier, Fredi Beleri will be able to carry out his responsibilities in the European Parliament. The MEP was transferred to prison for procedural matters and is expected to be released around 4 p.m.
The Greek government had put pressure on the Albanian authorities via the European Union institutions, citing the rule of Law and his right to exercise his duties as an elected member of the Europan Parliament.
