Former Albanian President Arrested on Corruption Charges, Opposition Alleges Political Motivation

October 24, 2024 by No Comments

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested on Tuesday in Tirana on charges of money laundering, corruption, and hiding personal income following a trip to Kosovo. Police, wearing black masks, stopped his car and apprehended him, according to local media. The police claimed they had no choice but to use force, according to Reuters. The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) said that Meta’s arrest came after a five-year investigation.

“I am confident in the victory of our national and democratic causes! The enemies of our nation and democracy will have the smile wiped off their faces. My abduction today in the most bandit-like manner reveals the panic of the dictatorial regime when faced with the truth,” Meta said on X shortly after his arrest.

The Balkans, known for its political instability and ethnic divisions, is concerned that the arrest of a popular former leader could escalate tensions ahead of the 2025 elections.

Albania’s opposition accused the government of manipulating the judiciary and law enforcement to target political opponents.

“The arrest of the former president of Albania indicates that the rule of the current Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has been taking an increasingly authoritarian bent. Without intending to prejudice the court ruling, the charges and the timing of the arrest are suspicious and may indicate that Rama is weaponizing law enforcement to go after his political opponents,” a diplomatic source with expertise in the region said.

Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, called the arrest a political showmanship, stating that “It was an act of political showmanship, with dozens of armed personnel arresting the former President forcefully in the middle of the day in a crowded street, while people were filming on their phones.” Nesho also argued that the charges against Meta are minor compared to the systemic corruption he claims is orchestrated by the current government.

“The current prime minister is the most corrupt leader in modern Albanian history. International media regularly reports that he directly threatens foreign journalists looking into his affairs, and leads a political party and government whose members are accused of billions of dollars in corruption.”

Meta was president from 2017 to 2022, was allied with Prime Minister Rama, and now leads the opposition Freedom Party. Meta and Rama have become bitter rivals, with Meta criticizing Rama’s government for increasing corruption and authoritarianism.

Corruption, especially within the judiciary, is a persistent problem in Albania, with courts often under political influence, and due process inconsistently enforced, according to Freedom House.

The diplomatic source said that the weaponization of the judiciary is part of a broader pattern in the Balkans. Authoritarian leaders, like Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Rama, present a “commitment to a European future” and “regional economic integration” while acting like authoritarians domestically.

Rama is a co-leader of the “Open Balkans” initiative, which aims to facilitate the free flow of people and goods across the Balkans. Many in Albania oppose the initiative, fearing it is a Serbian ploy to undermine European integration.

In May 2024, Meta warned of the dangers of the “Open Balkans” initiative, calling it an “alternative against European integration.” He feared it would strengthen hybrid regimes like Serbia, undermining free and fair elections, political pluralism, media freedom, and freedom of speech.

Meta is not the only political figure detained recently. Former president and prime minister Sali Berisha, also a political opponent of Rama, was charged with corruption and put under house arrest.

“The Albanian Police (criminals in uniform), following the orders of Edi Rama, abducted and punched in the head, in public the former President, former Prime Minister, and former Speaker of Parliament, Ilir Meta. I strongly condemn their monstrous act!,” Berisha said on X.

The State Department referred Digital to Albanian authorities for further details regarding the case. However, a spokesperson said “The United States supports Albania’s progress on rule of law, including the efforts of SPAK to prosecute high-level corruption and organized crime, in accordance with the law.”

Repeated requests for comment from spokespeople for the Albanian prime minister and the Albanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. went unanswered.