Political Drama Unfolds: Ex-President Ilir Meta Detained in Albania

Albania's political landscape was shaken on Monday when former President Ilir Meta was detained by police on corruption charges, a move his lawyer has labeled as politically motivated. Known for his leadership of the opposition Freedom Party, Meta, aged 55, was returning to Tirana from Kosovo when his vehicle was stopped by masked police officers, a video clip revealed.

The police claimed use of force was necessary during the arrest, highlighting ongoing instability and corruption issues that have plagued Albania since the fall of communism in the early 1990s. The corruption allegations are considered a major impediment to the nation joining the European Union.

Meta's lawyer, Genc Gjokutaj, stated that the former president faces charges of passive corruption, undeclared wealth, and money laundering. Meta has refuted these claims and argues that they are politically timed ahead of the national parliamentary election in April. Meanwhile, other political figures, including Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party, also face similar allegations, stoking claims of a political witch-hunt against the opposition.