FOR Meta's arrest: US Supports SPAK's Anti-Corruption Efforts

The US says it supports SPAK's efforts against high-level corruption. Washington's position was expressed in a response to the US State Department Tuesday evening to a request by the Voice of America to comment after the arrest of former Albanian President Ilir Meta.

“We are aware of the arrest. We refer to the Albanian authorities for further details on the case. The United States supports Albania's progress towards rule of law, including SPAK's efforts to prosecute high-level corruption and organised crime, in line with law”, says a State Department spokesman in response to American Voice interest.

Former President of the Republic and Freedom Party Chairman Ilir Meta were arrested on Monday at the order of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Structure.

The SPAK declared those in the investigation under suspicion of passive corruption, indecisiveness and hiding wealth, as well as money laundering Ilir Meta, as well as imposed measures of presentation for Monica Grand, as well as house arrest for Pirro Gijo and presentation obligation for Emma Cock.

Defence lawyer Genc Gjokutaj told the media after meeting with Mr. Meta in the security environments, that the charges are unfounded, and the arrest has been made for political purposes.

Other opposition politicians described the move as a political attack by Prime Minister Edi Rama on the opposition.

Meta, his former wife Monica Kryeki, Mr. Gijo and the lady are expected to appear before the court tomorrow in a hearing where security measures will be considered against them.

In addition to allegations by SPAK for Mr. Meta on Tuesday, reactions continued on Tuesday on how it was banned Monday at noon by the former Republika police, who named the event “banditically kidnapping”.

But Minister of Internal Affairs Ervin Hoxha said in social networks that the operational force, specialising for standards bans, during the tribunal's decision, faced a subject that strongly opposed the court's decision, as soon as it became aware of it.

The SPAK detailed on Monday in a public statement that Ilir Meta and Monika Kryegri, in collaboration between them and other public officials, allegedly committed passive corruption, money laundering and hidden wealth in a series of episodes, starting from nearly 15 years ago. / VOA