The convicted former mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, released on bail for the remainder on September 2, has confessed his 16 months in custody, as the GJKKO found him guilty of electoral corruption on two levels, arresting him on May 12, 2023 , two days before local elections.
In an interview for the show "Pa Censure" on RTSH, Fredi Beleri, currently the MEP of Greece for the "New Democracy" party, tells how he made new friends during his stay in isolation, even though among them there were those who were basically political opponents. , or former associates of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
"In the sector where I was, both in Durrës and in Fier, there were detainees, SPAK subjects, political and public figures, who, at first, were tried in the media and in public, then the SPAK comes out and the court certifies it. I was in prison with Mr. Lefter Koka, Safet Gjici, Alqi Blako, the directors of the municipality of Tirana, the mayor of Bulqiza, of Fushë Arrëzi", he says.
As he further adds that he had not known them before and that he made new friends.
"I didn't know any of them before, but we became friends, since we shared the same environment. I have a thank you for everyone, as they respected me and welcomed me in the best way", says Beleri.
He even told about the political debates that took place in prison between him and the arrested socialists.
"We often had political debates as well. Everyone defended their own ideas. There were those who defended the SP, there were those who did not, but they did not blame the SP for being arrested. Their problem was the injustice that came from the lack of legal procedures, from the non-respect of the rule of law that has its source from SPAK", said Beleri, who also denied a news spread a few weeks ago, that he had escaped the life of a former mayor in prison.
While being asked about the election as a Greek MEP, he underlines that he is also grateful to Prime Minister Edi Rama, who during the process accused him of being the author of his arrest and punishment.
"If it wasn't for Edi Rama, I would never have become a member of the European Parliament. If he had not ordered my arrest, if he had not ordered the justice to break the law with both feet, I would be a mayor with very big problems. I didn't have the magic wand, I'd be worn out in two years, and half the people who applaud me today would be unhappy.
However, I would prefer to be the mayor of the Himar Municipality and I still intend to do so, if I solve the case in time at the Strasbourg Court", said Fredi Beleri.
The former mayor of Himara was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment, of which he had less than two months left and which the Court of Fier converted to bail, releasing him early. Beleri said that he will continue his battle for justice until Strasbourg and that he will be involved in Albanian politics.