TIRANA, Albania — An Albanian court docket on Tuesday imprisoned a mayor from the rustic’s Greek minority on vote-buying fees, a ruling that used to be anticipated to boost tensions with neighboring Greece.
Greece had referred to as on Albania’s executive to restrain the method in opposition to Dhionisios Alfred Beleri, pronouncing the case may negatively have an effect on Albania’s software to tied the Eu Union. Albania is a candidate member negotiating complete club.
Albania’s executive has mentioned it might do not anything past the case used to be in court docket.
The Particular Court docket on Corruption and Arranged Crime gave Beleri a two-year sentence.
Beleri used to be elected mayor of Himare, 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital, Tirana. He used to be arrested days earlier than the vote past allegedly providing 40,000 Albanian leks ($390 on the week) to shop for 8 votes. Beleri gained the election however may now not be sworn in past below arrest.
Beleri’s legal professional, Geni Gjyzari, asserted that the decision used to be “political as the prime minister had ordered it,” adding that he would appeal.
Greece’s international ministry mentioned the court docket choice “increases the concern already expressed on the objectivity of the (judicial) process,” claiming that the sentence is “clearly disproportionate to the alleged offense.”
“The selective implementation of court rulings and the prejudging of court decisions do not conform with the rule of law,” a ministry observation mentioned. “The Greek government will closely follow the case and hopes to see a fair and objective ruling at the appeal trial.”
Members of the family between Greece and post-communist Albania were anxious from time to time, in large part over problems with minority rights and the sizable Albanian public in Greece.
___
Practice Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini
___
Nicholas Paphitis in Athens contributed to this document.