Ilir Meta, a prominent figure in Albanian politics who has held the highest offices – prime minister, speaker of parliament, and president – and currently leads the opposition Freedom Party (formerly the Socialist Movement for Integration, or LSI, instrumental in forming Albanian governments from 2009 to 2013), has been embroiled in numerous and serious allegations of corruption. While acquitted on one major charge – demanding a percentage in a hydroelectric power plant licensing deal, as revealed in a video released by a former party minister – his arrest on 24 October 2024, resulted from three separate corruption cases involving him and his wife, Monika Kryemadhi, encompassing money laundering and concealment of assets.

A central accusation revolves around the 2015 CEZ-DIA affair, initially highlighted by investigative journalism based on testimony from Josef Hesjek, former executive director of the energy distribution company CEZ, given at the international court of arbitration. Hesjek's testimony detailed how DIA, a company owned by Kastriot Ismailaj (allegedly a close associate of Meta), was suspiciously awarded a contract to collect outstanding debts from CEZ. This allegedly resulted in a €6.5 million transfer, with a portion purportedly going to Meta. Ismailaj himself was subsequently convicted (2017) on charges of money laundering and fraud. The investigation into this matter, initiated in 2019 following a criminal complaint by former CEZ lawyer Romeo Kara regarding the actions of state officials in implementing the CEZ-DIA contract, was further expanded in 2022 with additional denunciations from former MP Halit Valteri and lawyer Idajet Beqiri, ultimately merging into the current comprehensive case.

Further allegations include Meta's exploitation of his position as parliamentary speaker and his wife's role as a member of parliament to influence the fibre optic market in 2014 by favouring Unifi Communication, a company owned by a Kryemadhi relative, and securing an interconnection agreement with another mobile phone company. This manoeuvre allegedly provided them with financial benefits and credit cards from the company's administrator. Pirro Xhixho, the former head of the electronic and postal communications agency, also faces charges of passive corruption in this matter.

The investigation also alleges that the Meta-Kryemadhi couple received a villa in exchange for exerting undue influence over officials appointed by their party to benefit one of richest businesspeople in Albania, Samir Mane. The villa transaction was later cancelled. Additionally, Kryemadhi is suspected of having influenced the amendment of a law at the behest of this businessman. Further compromising Meta's position are allegations concerning lobbying contracts he secured in the United States (2016-2017) while serving as party chairman, involving companies such as Global Security, Innovative Solution LLC and the McKeon Inc. group; a substantial portion of these payments allegedly bypassed official party accounts.

Finally, Meta and Kryemadhi are accused of money laundering related to the purchase of a duplex apartment, partially funded with illicit money disguised by a bank loan and of failing to declare medical expenses totalling €106,000 (with approximately €86,000 suspected to have been paid in cash) between 2013 and 2019. This led SPAK (the special prosecution office) to suspect the couple of concealing assets, which is a criminal offence.