Fredi Beleri Takes Oath as MEP Amid Controversy

Ethnic Greek politician Fredi Beleri left Albanian jail to travel to Strasbourg and take his oath as a European Parliament lawmaker. Beleri was jailed on vote-buying charges and will return to prison. His case has strained Greek-Albanian relations and raised questions about his future role.

Ethnic Greek politician Fredi Beleri departed from an Albanian jail on Monday to travel to Strasbourg, where he is set to take the oath as a European Parliament lawmaker. However, Beleri will return to serve his sentence on vote-buying charges.

Local media footage captured Beleri leaving jail in a diplomatic car from the Greek embassy. Beleri, who secured a seat in the EU parliament representing Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' New Democracy Party, was arrested in May 2023 during a mayoral election campaign in Himare, Albania. Despite winning the vote, Beleri remained in pre-trial detention and was later sentenced to two years for election fraud.

"I am going to Athens now and tomorrow I will be in Strasbourg to participate in the first European Parliament meeting," Beleri told media at Tirana airport, where he was greeted by a cheering crowd in Athens. He expressed optimism about his release and reiterated his commitment to democracy and civil liberties.

Beleri's case has exacerbated tensions between Albania and Greece, with allegations of a political conspiracy against him by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has denied the claims.