The corruption trial of Ilir Meta, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Edi Rama, commenced on Monday, marking another high-profile graft case in Albania.
Meta, alongside his ex-wife, former mother-in-law, and two other defendants, faces charges of passive corruption, money laundering, and false declaration of assets.
The former president has been in detention since October 2024, following his arrest upon returning to Albania from Kosovo. He is accused of engaging in corrupt practices over several years, dating back to his tenure as economy minister in 2010. However, the 57-year-old has strongly denied all allegations, describing them as “purely political.”
At the opening of the trial, Meta, standing inside a glass enclosure in the courtroom, called for full transparency and requested that proceedings be broadcast live.
“Out of respect for the citizens to whom I have served with dedication, I publicly request that the special court guarantees the live broadcast of this entire trial,” he said.
Once an ally of Rama, Meta has held several top positions in Albania since the fall of communism in 1991. He entered parliament in 1992, served as prime minister from 1999 to 2002, and held multiple key government roles. He later became president in 2017, a largely ceremonial role, before leaving office in 2022.
The trial is part of a broader anti-corruption drive in Albania, which has seen several senior political figures investigated or prosecuted across party lines. Another notable case involves former prime minister Sali Berisha, who is also facing trial on corruption-related charges.
Additionally, allegations have been raised against Rama’s former deputy prime minister, Belinda Balluku.
Efforts to combat corruption remain central to Albania’s ambition to join the European Union, with judicial reforms and high-profile prosecutions seen as critical benchmarks in the accession process.
The next hearing in Meta’s trial is scheduled for May 11.
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