Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was forcefully arrested by the Special Prosecutor’s for Corruption (SPAK) in Tirana on alleged corruption charges. Meta, who is under investigation for corruption, money laundering, and hiding personal income and property, was seen being dragged from his vehicle by masked police officers in a video released by local media.
Meta, the leader of Albania’s left-wing Freedom Party, has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, accusing it of corruption and concentrating power in Rama’s hands. On social media, Meta expressed his innocence and condemned his arrest as a “bandit-like abduction” by a “dictatorial regime.” His party’s secretary-general called it “criminal kidnapping,” while his lawyer criticized the arrest as illegal and politically motivated.
This is not the first time Meta has been under investigation by SPAK, as he was previously investigated for illegal lobbying in the US and hiding personal wealth. Meta believes his arrest was orchestrated by Prime Minister Rama and the head of SPAK, Altin Dumani, as a way to silence political opposition.
Corruption has long plagued Albanian politics, hindering the country’s democratic and economic development. Meta’s arrest has sparked outrage among his supporters, who view it as a politically motivated move by the government to silence dissent. The ongoing investigation and arrest of high-profile figures like Meta highlight the challenges Albania faces in combatting corruption and strengthening its democratic institutions.
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