Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek politician and former mayor of Himara, Albania, was released from prison on conditional terms after serving time for vote-buying charges that he claims were politically motivated. His arrest in May 2023 occurred just prior to local elections, where he won but was never sworn in due to his conviction. The case has heightened tensions between Albania and Greece, with Athens voicing concerns over the fairness of Beleri's trial and the implications for Albania's EU accession process. Beleri plans to challenge his conviction in the European Court of Human Rights, asserting that his case exemplifies a lack of democracy in Albania. His release comes amid strained relations, as the Greek government continues to advocate for the rights of the Greek minority in Albania. Despite being freed, Beleri criticized the state of rule of law in Albania and expressed intentions to rerun for mayor if cleared of charges.