Fredi Beleri

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.

Since midday last Monday, Greek-Albanian politician Fredi Beleri has been free to carry out his duties as a representative of Greece in the European Parliament. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, for his part, may believe that he "ended" Beleri politically.

Monday's decision by an Albanian court to grant the release of the ethnic Greek elected mayor of Himare and MEP for New Democracy Fredi Beleri after 16 months of detention essentially ended his personal adventure but does not lead to an automatic improvement in Greek-Albanian relations, which have been seriously damaged by the affair.

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.

After 16 months in an Albanian prison, Fredi Beleri has been granted early release. His request, which had been postponed three times, was approved on Monday.

After 16 months in an Albanian prison, Fredi Beleri's request for early release will be heard on Monday.

This request comes after a third postponement, with reports from Greece indicating optimism about the outcome.

The mayoral elections in Himare, southern Albania, to replace the jailed ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri were reportedly marred by influence that the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to have used to back its chosen candidate, Vangjel Tavo.

Greek officials are pressing Albania to address concerns about the integrity of Sunday's local elections in the southwestern town of Himare.

Freddi Beleri, the town's previously elected mayor and a member of the ethnic Greek minority, was removed from office, convicted of vote-buying, and jailed. Both he and Greece have alleged that the case was politically motivated.

Preliminary results Monday showed Albania's governing Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo won the mayoral election in the southwestern town of Himare after the previous mayor was removed in a case that has sparked tensions with Greece.

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.