TIRANA – Minister of State Stavros Papastavrou expressed his support for detained Himare mayor-elect Fredi Beleri after meeting with him in Tirana on Tuesday.

The “elected mayor is denied his democratic right to be sworn-in, while the outvoted mayor continues to exercise power”, noted the minister. Beleri has the right to a frair trial, which continues on Wednesday, he added.

Furthermore, “we want the presumption of his innocence to be fully respected by Albanian justice,” he underlined.

A fair solution must finally be found within the framework of the European acquis, the rule of law and the principle of good neighborliness, “so that democratic normality can be restored to Himare”, said the minister.

Beleri won the mayoral race in southern Albania on May 14, but remains detained by court order following suspicions of alleged voter bribery.