Former Albanian President Arrested on Corruption Charges

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested by police on Monday on charges of corruption, according to his spokesperson and lawyer.

In a press conference, Meta's spokesperson, Tedi Blushi, condemned the arrest as "inappropriate" and stated that it would be met with "condemnations from all honest Albanian patriots."

He also referred to media footage showing masked police officers stopping a black car, from which Meta reportedly emerged, seemingly resisting their actions. However, Reuters has not verified the authenticity of the video.

When asked whether Meta's supporters would organize protests, Blushi responded: "This government will pay the price in every street and in every square."

No official comment has been made yet by the Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), which was established to tackle corruption and organized crime in Albania.

However, the online news outlet Reporter.al, based in Tirana, reported that Meta is facing accusations of corruption, money laundering, and concealing wealth. Other media outlets have echoed these claims.

Meta's lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, confirmed the arrest and the corruption charges, adding that Meta denies the accusations. He did not provide further details on the case.