The member of the European Parliament, Fredi Beleri, was accosted outside the parliament in Tirana, Albania, on Tuesday evening.
According to reports, the MEP, who was elected on the New Democracy ticket in the June elections this year, was exiting the Presidential Council when unknown individuals hurled eggs and yogurt against him.
A video appears to show a man verbally attacking Beleri, shouting, “You disgrace! Shame on those who put you in politics and the European Parliament.”
Shortly after the attack, Beleri stated Albania, which aspires to join the EU, today showed disregard toward a leading European institution it wishes to join. “It is also displaying contempt for the international agreements it has signed for the protection of diplomatic missions.”
Fredi Beleri issued a statement earlier on Tuesday morning before his meeting in Tirana to state broadcaster (ERT), saying he would not forget how “Edi Rama, through coup-like procedures, prevented me from representing the citizens of Himare, who elected me as mayor.”
“This would be the first time since my conviction and ordeal that I would meet him if the meeting takes place. He may send one of his associates,” he emphasized.
Beleri was scheduled to meet with Albanian PM Edi Rama today alongside other Members of the European Parliament. However, while the other members did meet with Rama, the New Democracy MEP was prevented from meeting with the Albanian Prime Minister.
Beleri, an Albanian citizen of Greek origin, served a two-year prison sentence in Albania on charges of illegally soliciting votes during the municipal elections in Himare in southern Albania.
He was eventually released from prison at the start of September after a ruling by a first-instance court.
He was accused of buying votes, an allegation he, his supporters, and even the Greek government said was a politically motivated prosecutorial and judicial miscarriage of justice.
