
Fredi Beleri has failed in his attempt to take his case to the Constitutional Court, after the latter decided not to review his request to overturn his prison sentence.
According to the official announcement, the Constitutional Court of Albania decided on March 10, 2026 not to proceed with the case to a plenary session, leaving the previous judicial decisions in force. Beleri had challenged the decision of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, as well as that of the Supreme Court of Albania, which confirmed his conviction.
"Dhionisios Alfred Beleri No. 1 (Dh) 2026 Regj.Them, dated 03.02.2026 Abolition as incompatible with the Constitution of the Republic of Albania of decisions no. 160 (87-2024-217), dated 29.07.2024 of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime and no. 00-2025-1179, dated 15.07.2025 of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court. 10.03.2026 Failure to pass the case for consideration in a plenary session", - announces the Constitutional Court.
The former mayor of Himara was sentenced to 2 years in prison by the GJKKO on charges of "active electoral corruption", after he was arrested in flagrante delicto on May 12, 2023, two days before the local elections, while buying votes. The decision was later confirmed by all levels of the judiciary.
In the same case, his associate Pandeli Kokaveshi was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, but with a suspension and placement on probation for three years.
After spending about 16 months in prison, Beleri was released on parole, having served two-thirds of his sentence.
While serving his sentence in Albania, he received support from Greece and on June 10, 2024, he was elected as an MEP under the banner of New Democracy, the party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In July 2024, Beleri was sworn in in Strasbourg, with the permission of the Albanian authorities.