Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested on Monday on charges of corruption, money laundering and concealing personal income and assets.
Mehta served as president from 2017 to 2022 and was also the leader of the left-wing Freedom Party (AP) reported. Monika Krimadi, Mehta’s ex-wife and former leader of the same left-wing party, faces similar charges.
The Special Mechanism for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime, Albania’s judicial body responsible for investigating and prosecuting political and state officials, said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press that the arrests were the culmination of a five-year investigation. Ta. Prosecutors have not formally filed criminal charges, and the investigation is ongoing. If convicted, Mehta could face up to 12 years in prison. (Related: Eric Adams claims Biden-Harris administration targeted him after speaking out about ‘broken immigration policy’)
Police said law enforcement used “use of force” after Mehta refused orders to exit the vehicle.
“Investigations continue into other individuals suspected of being involved in this illegal criminal activity,” prosecutors said, according to AFP news agency. reported. It added that the investigation dates back to 2010-2011, when Mehta was finance minister, and included cooperation from the United States, Austria, Italy, Cyprus and San Marino.
Mehta’s lawyer said the charges were politically motivated, according to the Associated Press. Mehta echoed this sentiment on Monday as he thanked party members for standing by him. “Today, our struggle is the beginning of a new chapter in the uncompromising struggle against the brutally installed narco-state,” he wrote to X.
1/3 I would like to sincerely thank all members of the Liberal Party for the extraordinary support they have given me. Today, our struggle begins a new chapter in our uncompromising fight against the brutally installed drug state. pic.twitter.com/32ls5Bgw3k
— Ilir Meta (@ilirmetazyrtar) October 21, 2024
“My abduction today is a very bandit-like method and reveals the panic of the dictatorship in the face of the truth,” he wrote. “Since learning of the decision to arrest me, I feel stronger than ever and can assure you that I fully believe in my complete innocence.”
Krimadi made similar remarks in a Facebook post in Albanian. “Just a few minutes ago, [current Prime Minister] Edi Rama’s political court farm is now available to me. “Dozens of empty pages have been written justifying the false accusations of disgraced assassins seeking to completely wipe out the actions of the Albanian rebels,” she wrote. She said her lawyers had been instructed to “remove this travesty in all courts and abroad.”
“Today’s action is nothing short of a declaration of war and places two opposition leaders under political arrest,” Liberal Party Secretary-General Teddy Brusi said, AP reported. He branded the arrest nothing more than a “criminal kidnapping.”
The Liberal Party condemned Mr Mehta’s arrest. statement on its website.
According to AFP, Meta has been a central figure in Albanian politics since he was elected to parliament in 1992. In addition to serving as President and Minister of Finance, he also served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2010, and Speaker of the National Assembly from 2013 to 2017.
Two others, Liberal MP’s father Piro Sisho and Emma Chok, were also investigated by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. reported.
