Albanian court upholds prison sentence for Greek minority mayor, fueling tensions with Athens

In a recent development in Tirana, Albania, an appeals court upheld a two-year prison sentence for Dhionisios Alfred Beleris, an elected mayor of the country's Greek minority. Beleris, who also holds Greek citizenship and won a seat in the European Parliament, was convicted of vote-buying in municipal elections last year. Despite his denial of the charges, Beleris was arrested before taking office as mayor of Himare, located 240 kilometers south of Tirana, and subsequently sentenced to imprisonment. The situation has strained relations with neighboring Greece, with Athens criticizing the detention as politically motivated and urging Albania to halt the legal proceedings against Beleris to avoid negative implications for its EU membership bid. The case has raised concerns about the impact on Albania's EU accession process, as European Parliament lawmakers typically have legal immunity from prosecution for crimes committed before their election. However, in Beleris' case, this immunity is unlikely to affect his sentence due to the nature of the offense committed in a non-EU member state. The Greek Ambassador to Albania emphasized the importance of European Parliament members being able to attend sessions in person, highlighting the democratic aspect of parliamentary representation. The incident comes at a critical time for the Western Balkans, with several countries in the region, including Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, at various stages of their EU membership applications. The situation underscores the complexities and challenges faced by countries in the Western Balkans seeking EU integration, particularly in light of regional stability concerns heightened by events such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Croatia's accession in 2013 remains the most recent example of a Western Balkan country joining the EU, emphasizing the rigorous process and criteria involved in membership. The ongoing developments surrounding Beleris' case serve as a reminder of the intricate political dynamics and legal considerations shaping the path to EU membership for countries in the region.