Agents from the National Bureau of Investigation stopped Meta’s car as he was en route to party headquarters, where he was scheduled to hold a press conference.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) ordered the arrest, accusing Meta and his wife, Monika Kryemadhi, of committing “several criminal offenses” in collaboration with other public officials.
While Meta was detained, SPAK issued summonses for Kryemadhi, Pirro Xixho—the father of Freedom Party MP Erisa Xixho—and Ema Çoku.
SPAK, which has been investigating Meta for years, said it opened criminal proceedings in 2022 for offenses including “passivoke corruption of senior state officials and elected officials,” “money laundering of criminal proceeds,” and “failure to declare, conceal, or falsely declare assets and private interests by elected officials and public employees.”
The Prosecutor’s Office further outlined the crimes allegedly involving Meta and officials close to him, including his wife.
Reacting to the arrest and her summons, Kryemadhi, who has been ordered to appear before authorities, posted on Facebook that she was unaware of any legal measures taken against her. She vowed to respond “with legal and public steps” once the summons is officially confirmed.
Tedi Blushi, the Freedom Party’s secretary-general, condemned Meta’s arrest, calling it “another attack on the Albanian opposition by the justice system.” He further described the situation as a “criminal hostage-taking” by what he called a “criminal structure” targeting Meta—a former president, prime minister, and parliamentary speaker—in broad daylight.
“This is a disaster and scandalous situation. This serious criminal act will receive an exemplary response,” Blushi told local media.
Meta has long been a key figure in Albanian politics, serving as prime minister from 1999 to 2002, speaker of the parliament from 2013 to 2017, and president from 2017 to 2022. After completing his term as president, he returned to lead the Socialist Movement for Integration, renaming it the Freedom Party.
The investigation into Meta is linked to the CEZ-DIA affair, a controversial 2009 agreement between the Czech company CEZ, which purchased Albania’s energy distribution company, and DIA, a debt collection agency tasked with recovering unpaid consumer debts.
The deal has been marred by allegations that it was part of a scheme to bribe Albanian politicians and the country’s Energy Regulatory Authority.
Meta has faced public scrutiny over his ties to Kastriot Ismailaj, DIA’s administrator, who was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2017.
In October 2015, when the Democratic Party called for his resignation as speaker of the parliament, Meta denied any wrongdoing, claiming that Ismailaj had not asked him for any favors.
Note: This article has been updated with the SPAK official statement on the arrest and accusations.