Greece threatens to block Albania’s EU bid over detention of ethnic Greek politician

Diplomatic row erupts after Fredi Beleri’s arrest on May 12, with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis threatening to halt Albania’s EU accession process

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Greece on Monday threatened to block Albania’s EU bid over the detention of an ethnic Greek politician, stressing the country respects ethnic minorities’ rights.

Albania's European prospects are entirely dependent on respecting the rights of its Greek ethnic minority in the country, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during an election campaign visit to an Athens suburb, the state-run AMNA news agency reported on Monday.

Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek minority candidate running for mayor in Himara, Albania's southernmost city, was detained by police on May 12 on charges of vote-buying.

His arrest has strained the relationship between Tirana and Athens

The Greek government has lodged a formal protest with the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite being in custody as of Monday, Beleri won the election on Sunday.

Kaynak: