US intervention for release of Heimarra mayoral candidate Freddy Beleris Greek-American organizations are writing a joint letter to Deputy Deputy Minister for European and Eurasian Affairs Gabriel Escobar. In their letter, leading members of the diaspora emphasize that “Washington should pursue a policy of zero tolerance for any democratic retreat in the Western Balkans, given that Russia continues its efforts to destabilize the region, especially after the invasion of Ukraine.”

The letter is signed by the World Cyprus Struggle Coordinating Committee (PSEKA), AHEPA, Anti Manatos, AHI, HALC, the Chia Federation, the Greek American National Council and the Pan Macedonian Union of America.

“We are writing to express our concerns about the treatment of the Greek minority in Albania during the upcoming municipal elections in the country.

Less than 48 hours before the opening of polling stations for municipal elections in Albania on Sunday, the Albanian government dealt a huge blow to fair and free elections and the rights of minorities in the country.

Last night, secret police arrested Greek ethnic minority mayoral candidate Freddy Beleris and members of his campaign team on baseless charges. Mr. Beleri’s political opponent is none other than the candidate of the ruling Socialist Party of Albania, Mr. Giorgi Goro. Recent polls have shown a tense pre-election struggle between the two candidates.

Mr. Beleri is a member of the Greek national minority in Albania and a leading figure in the minority political party, the Union for Human Rights (KEAD), which supports his candidacy.

Such a blow to the very heart of democracy, that is, to the electoral process itself, casts serious doubt on Albania’s commitment to fulfilling the criteria for joining the European Union. Unfortunately, Mr. Beleris was arrested almost a year after all 27 EU member states, including Greece, agreed to start accession talks with Albania. This is all the more regrettable in light of Russia’s ongoing efforts to destabilize Europe in general and the Western Balkans in particular in the context of its violent aggression against Ukraine. At a time when autocracies are joining forces, any deviation from democratic principles on the part of a country seeking to join the EU is unacceptable.

We ask you to demand the immediate release of Mr. Beleris and call on the Albanian government to hold free and fair elections on Sunday. At stake is not only democracy and human rights in Albania, but also Albania’s relations with Greece and thus its candidacy for the European Union. The retreat of democracy in Turkey under Erdogan should have been a wake-up call and there should be a zero-tolerance policy for any retreat from democracy in the Western Balkans.”

Source: RES-IPE