The trial against former Albanian president Ilir Meta has officially begun at the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime, with the defendant requesting that court proceedings be broadcast live to the media.
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| Meta performing the two headet eagle with his hands, a tradicional Albanian symbol. |
Meta appeared in court greeting supporters and making the double-headed eagle gesture, a symbolic sign often associated with Albanian identity. During the session, he formally asked for full transparency through live media coverage, a request the court is expected to review in the coming hearings.
The former president has been held in pre-trial detention since October 2024 and is facing charges brought by Special Anti-Corruption Structure. Prosecutors have accused Meta of corruption, money laundering, and concealment of assets, linked to the controversial CEZ-DIA affair and lobbying activities of the Socialist Movement for Integration in the United States. According to the prosecution, Meta and other defendants allegedly used political influence and corrupt schemes to secure незаконные financial benefits.
The case is considered one of the most significant anti-corruption proceedings involving a high-ranking political figure in Albania. Meta has consistently denied the allegations, previously requesting the dismissal of the case or its return for further investigation.
In the same session, the court is also expected to rule on requests for a fast-track trial from several co-defendants, including relatives of Monika Kryemadhi and former officials of Electronic and Postal Communications Authority. These developments could influence the pace and structure of the broader judicial process.
As proceedings continue at GJKKO, the court’s decisions on procedural requests—including the potential live broadcast—are likely to shape public access and scrutiny of the case, which remains under close attention in Albania’s political and legal landscape.