Presumption of innocence

The European Commission has urged Greece to properly transpose European Union regulations regarding the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at trial.

On Thursday, the European Commission filed three lawsuits against Bulgaria at the EU Court of Justice for failing to apply European legislation properly. Two cases concern non-compliance with European requirements, and one involves incorrect application.

The prosecutor has proposed the guilt of 9 defendants and the acquittal of a total of 12 individuals

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.

With regard to the continued imprisonment of the ethnic Greek mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri, Greek diplomatic sources have stressed that, as a candidate for EU membership, Albania must strictly respect his right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

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.

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.

The controversy arose over the comments made by the president of the Commission Investigating Murders of Journalists, Veran Matic, on the trial for the murder of journalist Slavko Curuvija, Beta agency reported.

The Association announced on Monday that Matic in this way influenced the Trial Chamber in the process for murder of journalist Slavko Curuvija.

Matic: We respect the independence of the court, but we will not bury our head in the sand when it's clear to everyone what's going on.

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.