Albania court upholds detention of ex-president Ilir Meta

TIRANA, Oct. 16 (TeMA) — Albania’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by former president Ilir Meta to be released from custody while facing corruption and money-laundering charges.

It’s the second time Meta’s request has been turned down since his arrest in October 2024.

Meta, who leads the Freedom Party, is accused of taking bribes and abusing his office when he served as economy minister. Prosecutors say he used his influence to steer a multimillion-lek debt-collection contract to a private company working with the Czech-owned CEZ Distribution and later profited from the deal.

The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (SPAK) says Meta and his wife, former lawmaker Monika Kryemadhi, also lobbied officials to benefit private telecom interests in 2014.

Meta was arrested by anti-corruption agents on Oct. 21 last year near Tirana and has repeatedly called the case politically motivated.

He is the first former Albanian head of state ever held on corruption charges.