He speaks of a “parody trial”. the elected mayor of Heimarra Freddy Beleriswho was found guilty today by Albanian justice for attempting to buy votes and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Freddy Beleris specifically complains:

“It was a mock trial. With a fake criminal record, no evidence, no other witnesses except one sponsored by the police, with an “appointed” judge, in a glass cage without communication with my lawyer, today the Albanian court sentenced me to two years in prison. My crime is that we Chimarraeans want to be masters of our ancestral land. My crime is that my compatriots Heimarrai elected me mayor against the plans of the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. European Union and USA, is this the Justice you want for us? I leave the judges to the mockery of the Albanian people. I will continue my fight for Justice and Democracy in the name of my fellow citizens. Sooner or later, I will find justice. I have as much patience as it takes to get to the bottom of this case.”

Appeal against the decision

The Albanian justice sentenced the elected Mayor of Heimarra to two years in prison. His sentence “counts” from his arrest, last May, two days before the municipal elections, when he was arrested on the charge of buying votes.

The decision is of first instance and as it has already been known, the lawyers of the elected mayor of Heimarra they will appeal the decision. Specifically, Beleris’ legal staff has 15 days to file an appeal.

According to what he reported the journalist of SKAI, Christos Nikolaidis on SKAI’s main news bulletin residents in Heimarra are angry speaking out for a rigged and premeditated decision which was not based on any evidence. That is why everyone is looking forward to hearing the case in second instance at the appeals court.

At the same time, Pantelis Kokavesis was sentenced to 18 months with a 3-year suspension.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Beleris: Today’s sentencing decision intensifies concerns about the objectivity of the process

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regarding the conviction of the Albanian court against the elected mayor of Kheimarra.

The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in detail:

“Today’s conviction by an Albanian court against the elected mayor of Heimarra Fredy Beleris heightens the concerns raised about the objectivity of the process.

And this is due to the shaking of the presumption of innocence due to external statements and actions that advocated conviction and given that the final sentence is obviously disproportionate in relation to the extent of the alleged offense. And the measurement of the penalty, so that he is not released from prison, prevents the elected mayor from assuming his duties, even today, and keeps the defeated candidate in the mayoralty, despite the express court decision months ago that imposed his immediate removal.

The selective application of judicial decisions and the discounting of judicial judgments are not consistent with the principles of the rule of law. The Greek government will closely monitor the case and looks forward to a fair and objective judgment at the second level of jurisdiction.”