The event was attended and greeted by the mayors of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, while a taped message from the vice-president of the Commission, Margaritis Schinas, was shown.
With a central request, the immediate release and swearing in of the elected mayor Fredy BelerisGreek minorities of Albania held a militant rally in Heimarra this afternoon.
The event was attended and greeted by the mayors of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, and of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, while a taped message from the vice-president of the Commission, Mr. Margaritis Schina, was shown.
Three months have passed since Beleris was arrested and remanded in custody for attempted vote-buying, Albanian judicial authorities are still holding him in custody without setting a trial or even formal charges.
According to the minorities and their leadership, his continued detention is part of a plan so that the deadlines set by the electoral code expire and he cannot be sworn in as mayor.
In such a case, the same code provides for the announcement of new elections in the Municipality in a short period of time.
Greek expatriates from towns and villages in the area, some from Greece, flocked to the central square of Heimarra, responding to the call of the northern continental unions, but also of the “Omonoia” organization, to demonstrate in favor of the immediate release from prison and the immediate swearing-in of Fredis Beleris . Also present with their representatives were the Albanian opposition parties, which had supported Beleris in the winning elections and had subsequently denounced Prime Minister Edi Rama for scheming.
Addressing those gathered with a message and “in my capacity as Vice-President of the European Commission for the defense of the European way of life”, as , he noted that Mr. Margaritis Schinas pointed out among others:
“I once again call on the Albanian neighbors and friends not to continue in a tactic that is not in the interest of their countrywhich is not in the interest of the European aspirations of the Albanian people.
A lot of time has been lost, but even now, at this last hour, it is not too late to restore the injustice done to Fredis Beleris. What is happening to Fredis is profoundly anti-European.
I am sure that even at this last hour Fredis will be able to assume his duties as mayor of Himarra and no other option can be accepted by the EU”
From the gathering step Kostas Bakoyannis characterized his present presence in Himarra as a “pilgrimage for freedom, hope for democracy” and added:
“As the mayor of Athens and also as the president of the B40 network which consists of dozens of municipalities in 11 Balkan countries, I convey the message to you: Democracy is not imprisoned. The voice of citizens is not silenced. The mandate of the people is not falsified.
Heimarra has a mayor, a dot and a dash. His first and last name is: Fredi Beleris. Fredi Beleris is entitled to a fair trial. Illegal pretrial detention violates the rule of law and the presumption of innocence. Fredis Beleris is entitled to be sworn in as Mayor and to assume the duties entrusted to him by his fellow citizens. He deserves it himself. The people of Himarra deserve it.”
Source: Skai
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