Tirana, Albania – Ilir Meta, former president of Albania and leader of the Freedom Party, was arrested by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on his way to a press conference at party headquarters. The arrest, authorized by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption (SPAK), is part of an ongoing investigation into Meta’s alleged involvement in several criminal activities, including corruption, money laundering, and asset concealment.
Alongside Meta, SPAK issued summonses for his wife, Monika Kryemadhi, and several other individuals, including Pirro Xixho—the father of Freedom Party MP Erisa Xixho—and Ema Çoku. The charges stem from a probe that began in 2022, focusing on Meta’s alleged involvement in crimes such as “passivoke corruption of senior state officials and elected officials,” and “failure to declare, conceal, or falsely declare assets and private interests.”
Meta has faced investigations for years, particularly in relation to the CEZ-DIA affair, a controversial 2009 agreement between the Czech energy company CEZ and Albania’s debt collection agency, DIA. The deal, which involved the purchase of Albania’s energy distribution company by CEZ, has been at the center of allegations of bribery involving Albanian politicians and energy regulators.
In response to the arrest, Kryemadhi, who was ordered to appear before authorities, took to Facebook, claiming she had no knowledge of any legal actions taken against her and vowing to take legal and public steps once the summons is confirmed.
The arrest has sparked strong reactions from the Freedom Party. Tedi Blushi, the party’s secretary-general, condemned the action, calling it a political attack on the Albanian opposition. Blushi described Meta’s arrest as “criminal hostage-taking,” accusing the justice system of targeting Meta—a former president, prime minister, and parliamentary speaker—as part of a broader conspiracy.
Meta, a prominent figure in Albanian politics, has a long history of leadership roles, having served as prime minister from 1999 to 2002, speaker of the parliament from 2013 to 2017, and president from 2017 to 2022. After his presidential term, he returned to politics as the leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, which he renamed the Freedom Party.
The investigation continues, with additional developments expected in the coming weeks.
