Presumption of innocence

Greece says Beleri’s conviction ‘heightens concerns’ over judicial objectivity 

The conviction by an Albanian court of the elected mayor of Himare "heightens the concerns raised about the objectivity of the process," Greece's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, after an ethnic Greek was sentenced to two years in prison for buying votes.

North Macedonia’s President Demands Faster ‘Extortion’ Probe

Signalling his impatience with the unfolding "Extortion" scandal that has rocked North Macedonia in recent days, President Stevo Pendarovski on Monday called on prosecutors investigating it to "leave their summer vacations aside and get to work" in order to uncover the facts.

Greece to bolster presumption of innocence; decriminalize defamation

Greek Justice Minister Michalis Kalogirou on Monday submitted legislation in Parliament that, among other measures, will adopt European Union rules which will allow people suspected of a crime to seek compensation when public figures violate their right to presumption of innocence.

New bill to safeguard convicts' rights

A Justice Ministry bill that is heading to Parliament stipulates that people convicted of a crime can ask for a reduced sentence if public authorities made statements prior to the trial presuming or hinting at their guilt.

The bill, which incorporates European Directive 2016/343, was approved by the ministry after a public deliberation which ended on Wednesday.