21 October 2024 , 18:30
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Ilir Meta, the former president of Albania and leader of the opposition Freedom Party, was arrested Monday in Tirana on charges of corruption, money laundering, and failure to declare assets.
The country’s Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) ordered the arrest, but by late afternoon on October 21, it had not released an official statement regarding the charges against Meta, his wife Monika Kryemadhi, or other Freedom Party officials.
National Bureau of Investigation agents stopped Meta’s car as he was driving to the party headquarters, where he was scheduled to hold a press conference.
SPAK has been investigating Meta since January 2023. As part of the investigation, the office issued summonses for Kryemadhi, Pirro Xixho — the father of Erisa Xixho, a Freedom Party MP— and Ema Çoku.
Reacting to the arrest and her summons, Kryemadhi, who has been ordered to appear before authorities, posted on Facebook that she was unaware of any legal measures taken against her. She vowed to respond “with legal and public steps” once the summons is officially confirmed.
Tedi Blushi, the Freedom Party’s secretary-general, condemned Meta’s arrest, calling it “another attack on the Albanian opposition by the justice system.” He further described the situation as a “criminal hostage-taking” by what he called a “criminal structure” targeting Meta—a former president, prime minister, and parliamentary speaker—in broad daylight.
“This is a disaster and scandalous situation. This serious criminal act will receive an exemplary response,” Blushi told local media.
Meta has long been a key figure in Albanian politics, serving as prime minister from 1999 to 2002, speaker of the parliament from 2013 to 2017, and president from 2017 to 2022. After completing his term as president, he returned to lead the Socialist Movement for Integration, renaming it the Freedom Party.
The investigation into Meta is linked to the CEZ-DIA affair, a controversial 2009 agreement between the Czech company CEZ, which purchased Albania’s energy distribution company, and DIA, a debt collection agency tasked with recovering unpaid consumer debts.
The deal has been marred by allegations that it was part of a scheme to bribe Albanian politicians and the country’s Energy Regulatory Authority.
Meta has faced public scrutiny over his ties to Kastriot Ismailaj, DIA’s administrator, who was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2017.
In October 2015, when the Democratic Party called for his resignation as speaker of the parliament, Meta denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Ismailaj had not asked him for any favors.