The Special Prosecution Office has extended the investigation into the leader of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, arrested since October 21, 2024, by six months. The former president is accused of lobbying in the US and the "CEZ-DIA" file.
The news was confirmed today by defense attorney Kujtim Cakrani, who also gave a statement to the media, stating that they will appeal the decision and oppose it as illegal.
He claimed that Meta is being illegally held in detention even after more than 7 months since his arrest and the indictment, expressing surprise at the latest decision of the prosecution.
According to Cakran, SPAK says it is awaiting information and evidence, one of which is an expert report on Meta's former sister-in-law.
"They say that no evidence has been collected for him and they are keeping the President of the Republic in prison. No evidence has been collected, there is no fact why he is being held and it is absurd that the president is being held in pre-trial detention. The president has been informed of the charges, the deadline expires tomorrow, while SPAK has extended it by 6 months, I came and they gave me the decision today. The problem is why the president is still being held in pre-trial detention, he is not against the investigation and the process, but why is he being held?
You know why he is being held, the case is political, and the way he was arrested was political, as was the mayor of Istanbul. President Meta was kidnapped and SPAK has turned into a political prosecutor's office. The investigations started 6 years ago. The case is being investigated by Tirana and not SPAK, but SPAK would have investigated the police officers who kidnapped the president if it wanted to. The inquisition being carried out against Meta is unprecedented in the world. It is immoral and illegal to keep him in detention," said Cakrani.