Albanian ex-president detained on corruption allegations, opposition alleges political bias in charges.

On Tuesday, in Tirana, Albania, former President Ilir Meta was arrested on charges of money laundering, corruption, and concealing personal income after a trip to Kosovo.

According to local media reports, the police stopped Meta's car and arrested him. Reuters reported that the police had no choice but to use force.

The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime in Albania stated that Meta's arrest was the result of a five-year investigation, as reported by The Associated Press.

"I am confident in the success of our national and democratic goals! The enemies of our country and democracy will be defeated. My abduction today in a cowardly manner shows the desperation of the dictatorial regime when confronted with the truth," Meta declared in a statement on X following his capture.

The Balkans, a region in Europe with deep-seated ethnic divisions, has a history of political instability. There are concerns that the detention of a well-known ex-leader could exacerbate tensions prior to the 2025 elections.

The opposition in Albania accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of using the judiciary and law enforcement to target his political opponents, alleging that he was politicizing these institutions.

Some longtime observers of the region have expressed concern about recent developments.

The arrest of the former president of Albania suggests that the current Prime Minister, Edi Rama, is becoming increasingly authoritarian in his rule. Although the charges and timing of the arrest are not meant to prejudice the court ruling, they are suspicious and may indicate that Rama is using law enforcement to target his political opponents, according to a high-ranking diplomatic source with expertise in the region.

The former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, Agim Nesho, stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the arrest of Meta by authorities makes its intentions clear.

Nesho stated that the arrest of the former President by dozens of armed personnel in the middle of the day in a crowded street was a political showmanship.

Nesho stated that the charges against opposition leaders are insignificant compared to the systematic theft being carried out by the current government, as he put it.

"The current Albanian leader is the most corrupt in modern history, with international media reporting that he threatens foreign journalists and leads a party and government accused of billions in corruption."

Meta served as president from 2017 to 2022 and was allied with current Prime Minister Rama and his ruling Socialist Party. Currently, Meta leads the opposition and centrist Freedom Party. Despite being former allies, Meta and Rama are now bitter political rivals. Meta frequently criticizes the current government, claiming it is becoming increasingly corrupt and authoritarian.

In Albania, corruption is widespread, particularly in the judiciary, and the courts are frequently subject to political pressure and influence, resulting in inconsistent enforcement of due process, as reported by Freedom House.

The weaponization of judiciary and law enforcement agencies in the Balkans is part of a broader pattern in the region, according to a diplomatic source. Authoritarian leaders in the Balkans, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Rama, are presenting a "commitment to a European future" and "regional economic integration" to the West while acting like authoritarians at home and often directly opposing U.S. and EU interests in the region, the diplomat stated.

Rama is a co-leader of the "Open Balkans" initiative, which aims to facilitate a freer flow of people and goods across the Balkans. However, many people in Albania and across the Balkans are opposed to the initiative due to concerns that it is a Serbian plot to undermine the common regional market of Europe and threaten the Balkan countries' aspirations to join the EU.

In May 2024, Meta spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital about the "Open Balkans" initiative and warned of its dangers. He called it an "alternative against European integration" and feared it would strengthen hybrid regimes like Serbia, which would undermine free and fair elections, eliminate political pluralism, and target the media and freedom of speech.

Sali Berisha, a former president and prime minister of Albania, was recently charged with corruption and placed under house arrest, in addition to Meta, who was also detained.

In a statement on X, Berisha strongly condemned the Albanian Police (criminals in uniform), who, following the orders of Edi Rama, abducted and punched in the head, in public, the former President, former Prime Minister, and former Speaker of Parliament, Ilir Meta.

The State Department directed Planet Chronicle Digital to Albanian authorities for additional information on the case. Nevertheless, a spokesperson stated that "The United States supports Albania's advancement in the rule of law, including SPAK's efforts to prosecute high-level corruption and organized crime, in accordance with the law."

No response was received from the Albanian prime minister's spokespeople or the Albanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. when multiple requests for comment were made.