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SPAK's accusations against Meta, AP: Former president openly critical of Rama

Politiko 2025-05-27 20:09:47

SPAK's accusations against Meta, AP: Former president openly critical of

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was formally charged on Tuesday with corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and concealing property from authorities, his lawyer said.

The charges were communicated to Meta in a 192-page report by anti-corruption prosecutors, lawyer Kujtim Cakrani told reporters,  AP News reports .

The prosecutors belong to the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime, or SPAK, which deals with cases involving senior political and state officials.

Meta, the 56-year-old founder of the left-wing Freedom Party, was arrested in October.

Meta wrote on his Facebook page that he "cannot wait for the trial to begin, which will be public and will show the world" that SPAK is a puppet of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Meta also said he considers the agency Rama's "anti-opposition task force."
Rama's ruling Socialist Party won the May 11 parliamentary elections, taking 83 seats in the 140-seat parliament.

Meta, who was president from 2017 to 2022, has been an outspoken critic of Rama and has denounced his case as a politically motivated attack on an opposition leader.

Meta faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Meta's ex-wife, Monika Kryemadhi, a lawmaker and former leader of the Freedom Party, is also accused of the same crimes. Two other people connected to the case have been charged with money laundering and corruption.

Meta has held almost every high-ranking position in post-communist Albania, starting as a legislator. He eventually became foreign minister, minister of economy, trade and energy, deputy prime minister, prime minister, speaker of parliament and president.

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