Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested Monday over allegations of corruption, money laundering and concealing personal income and property.
Meta was president from 2017 to 2022 and was head of the left-wing Freedom Party, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Monika Kryemadhi, Meta’s ex-wife and previous head of the same left-wing party, faces the same allegations.
The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime, Albania’s judicial entity responsible for investigating and prosecuting senior political and state officials, said the arrest was the culmination of a five-year investigation in a statement obtained by the AP. Prosecutors have not formally filed criminal charges and the investigation is ongoing. If Meta is convicted, he could receive as much as 12 years in prison. (RELATED: Eric Adams Claims Biden-Harris Admin Targeted Him After He Spoke Out About ‘Broken Immigration Policies’)
The “use of force” was exercised by law enforcement after Meta refused to exit his vehicle when ordered to, police said.
“Investigations are continuing regarding other persons suspected of being involved in this illegal criminal activity,” the prosecution said, AFP reported. They added that this investigation, which goes as far back into Meta’s time as finance minister from 2010 to 2011, involved cooperation from the United States, Austria, Italy, Cyprus and San Marino.
Meta’s lawyer said charges were politically motivated, according to the AP. Meta echoed this sentiment when he thanked members of his party for sticking by him Monday. “Today, our struggle begins a new chapter in the uncompromising fight against the Narco-state that has been brutally installed,” he wrote on X.
1/3 I wholeheartedly thank all the members of the Freedom Party for the extraordinary support they have given me so far. Today, our struggle begins a new chapter in the uncompromising fight against the Narco-state that has been brutally installed. pic.twitter.com/32ls5Bgw3k
— Ilir Meta (@ilirmetazyrtar) October 21, 2024
“My abduction today in the most bandit-like manner reveals the panic of the dictatorial regime when faced with the truth,” he wrote. “I assure you that after becoming aware of the decision to arrest me, I feel stronger than ever, and I have full faith in my complete innocence.”
Kryemadhi took a similar line when she posted in Albanian on Facebook. “Just a few minutes ago, [current Prime Minister] Edi Rama’s political court farm was made available to me. Dozens of pages with empty sentences to justify the false accusations of some disgraceful assassins attempting to kill the Albanian opposition’s action entirely,” she wrote. She said that her lawyers were directed to “dismantle this farce in every courthouse and abroad.”
“Today’s act is nothing but a declaration of war, putting two opposition leaders under political arrest,” Tedi Blushi, the Freedom Party’s secretary-general, said, the AP reported. He labeled the arrest as nothing more than “a criminal kidnapping.”
The Freedom Party condemned Meta’s arrest in a statement on its website.
Meta has been a mainstay in Albanian politics since 1992, when he was elected to parliament, AFP reported. In addition to serving as president and finance minister, he was Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2010 and Speaker of the Parliament from 2013 to 2017.
Two other individuals — Pirro Xixho, the father of a Freedom Party Member of Parliament, and Ema Çoku — were also under investigation, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reported.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
