Greek communities in Albania

Fredi Beleri was released from a prison in Albania on Monday, September 2, and on Monday, September 9, is expected in Brussels, where he will serve as a member of the European Parliament after being elected on the ticket of Greece's governing New Democracy in June.

A former ethnic Greek mayor of an Albanian town, whose imprisonment on vote-buying charges has strained Albanian-Greek ties, has been released on probation, his office and a lawyer said Monday.

Edi Rama’s chosen candidate, Vangelis Tavos, won the elections in Himara to succeed Fredi Beleris, the elected mayor and now MEP who remains in prison.

The vote counting began shortly after midnight at the electoral commission center in Himara‘s football stadium to determine the successor of Fredi Beleris, the elected mayor and current MEP who remains in prison.

In alert within the Hellenic National Minority in view of the upcoming elections in the municipality of Himara is caused by the candidacy of Vangelis Tavos who is supported by Edi Rama after the removal of Beleri.

The Omonoia organization representing the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, and the parties of the Albanian opposition chose as their joint candidate in the repeat municipal elections of August 4 in Himare Petro Gjikuria, an ethnic Greek Albanian who lives and works in the United States.

The authorities in Albania proceeded with the removal of Fredi Beleris from his position as Mayor of Himara.

Greece's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday regarding an Albanian court's decision to reject an appeal by Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek elected mayor of Himara and more recently in the European Parliament, who will have to remain in prison until October.

In his message, the elected mayor of Himara thanked the Greeks & promised hard work as an MEP

The Ethnic Greek Minority in Albania celebrates as the elected mayor of Himara came in 3rd place on the New Democracy party ballot