Former Albanian President Ilir Meta Arrested on Corruption Charges

Ilir Meta, the former president of Albania, was dramatically arrested in Tirana by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) on serious allegations of corruption. His lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, revealed that Meta is currently under investigation for multiple offenses, including corruption, money laundering, and the concealment of personal income and assets.

Local media outlets broadcasted video footage capturing the moment of Meta’s arrest, which took place as he was returning to Tirana from neighboring Kosovo, where he was scheduled to hold a press conference. The video depicted heavily armed, masked police officers forcibly removing the ex-president from his vehicle, a scene that has raised eyebrows and sparked significant public outcry.

Meta, who served as Albania’s president from 2017 to 2022 and currently leads the left-wing Freedom Party, has consistently been a fierce critic of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s administration. He has accused the government of operating a “kleptocratic regime” and centralizing all legislative, administrative, and judicial powers under Rama’s control.

Taking to the social media platform X, Meta expressed his outrage, stating that his “abduction today in the most bandit-like manner reveals the panic of the dictatorial regime when faced with the truth.” He asserted his innocence, proclaiming, “I have full faith in my complete innocence.” Furthermore, Tedi Blushi, the secretary-general of Meta’s party, characterized the arrest as “a criminal kidnapping.”

Meta’s lawyer condemned the manner of the arrest, likening it to tactics used by criminal gangs. “He was abducted on the road just as gangs do,” Gjokutaj remarked, emphasizing that “the treatment he received was grossly unlawful.” This is not the first instance of legal scrutiny for the former president; he was previously investigated by SPAK for alleged illegal lobbying activities in the United States, alongside inquiries into him and his former wife for concealing their personal wealth.

Gjokutaj also contended that the arrest was politically motivated, suggesting that Prime Minister Edi Rama and SPAK head Altin Dumani were instrumental in orchestrating the decision. Salji Beriša, the president of the Democratic Party, echoed these sentiments, claiming that Meta’s arrest was a strategic move by Rama to target his political adversaries.

Corruption has long plagued Albanian politics since the collapse of communism in the 1990s, severely impeding the nation’s democratic, economic, and social development. The unfolding situation surrounding Ilir Meta’s arrest adds yet another chapter to the ongoing saga of political turmoil in the country.

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