Former Albanian President Ilir Meta Arrested

Ilir Meta, the former president of Albania and current leader of the Freedom Party, was detained on corruption charges in Tirana. His arrest, executed by the National Investigation Bureau, took place as he returned from Kosovo to hold a press conference, and included allegations of money laundering and failure to declare assets. Meta has denied the charges, claiming he has never been involved in any of the financial matters he is accused of. The arrest has sparked political tensions, echoing past actions against opposition figures and contributing to Albania's ongoing struggle with corruption as it seeks EU membership. Additionally, Meta has criticized the current government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, labeling it a 'kleptocratic regime'. The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption (SPAK) has yet to comment on the case.