The Berlin process/ The Greek minister lands in Tirana today, he is expected to visit Fredi Beleri in prison, the agenda is revealed

Tirana will host today (September 14), the Ministerial of Interior Ministers, within the framework of the Berlin Process, where the Minister of Citizen Protection of Greece, Yannis Oikonomou, is part of the delegation of representatives of European states. In addition to participating in the Conference within the Berlin Process today, Yannis Oikonomou, on September 15, is expected to visit the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, who is in prison, Greek media reports .

Yannis Oikonomou's agenda according to the Greek media

Thursday, September 14

-10:20 Meeting with the Minister of the Interior of Albania, Mr. Taulant Balla

-12:30 Meeting with the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all of Albania, Mr. Anastasio

-14:00-18:00 Interministerial Conference

The sections of the conference are as follows:

-Integrated border management in the Western Balkans

- Regional cooperation in the fight against organized crime

-Cyber ??cooperation in the Western Balkans

-11:00 a.m. Visit to Durrës and Freddy Beleri prisons

The arrest of Fredi Beleri on May 12 on the charge of election corruption and his detention has brought irritation in the relations between Tirana and Athens. The sentence in prison for the winner of the May 14 elections has also been confirmed by the Supreme Court, which in the decision of July 25, 2023, which has already been released, expressed doubts that Fredi Beleri could damage the evidence. This fact is based on the disappearance of the device where the security camera recordings are memorized in the bar owned by Fredi Beleri in Himare, where the payment of 40 thousand lek was made for the votes of 8 citizens on May 12. The file states that Beleri and his associate Kokaveshi offered 50 euros for a vote, while they were arrested while giving the money. The two defendants are charged with the criminal offense of 'Active corruption in elections' committed in collaboration. The winner of the elections for the Himar Municipality has made 2 requests for a special permit to enable him to take the oath as mayor, but the prisons have refused. While in the High Court, Beleri has made 2 appeals to declare illegal the arrest and wiretapping of the prosecution.  

The Greek government is also involved in his issues, which calls the arrest illegal and political. But the US Department of State sent a message today to the Albanian authorities regarding the case of the mayor of Himara, saying that the US government expects the case to be pursued according to Albanian legislation. In response to a question from Greek correspondents in Washington, a DASH representative emphasized that he is aware of Fredi Beleri's detention and expects the Albanian authorities to follow a proper process according to the country's laws.