Special Court seizes luxury villas linked to former president’s ex-wife amid corruption probe
The Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) has seized two luxury villas in the prestigious Kodra e Diellit neighborhood in Tirana, owned by Monika Kryemadhi, deputy of the Freedom Party, and her mother, Fatime Kryemadhi. The decision came following the request of the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). The order was executed following allegations that the properties were acquired with unverified funds.
Why is this important: The ruling marks yet another significant moment in one of Albania’s landmark cases against corruption in high levels. SPAK’s actions emphasize its commitment to tackling high-profile corruption involving influential figures in Albanian politics.
Details:
- The villas, spanning over 600 square meters, are located in the sought-after Kodra e Diellit residential area.
- One villa belongs to Kryemadhi, while the second is registered under her mother’s name.
- SPAK uncovered evidence suggesting the properties were purchased using funds of unverified origin, prompting the court to impose preventive seizure measures.
Context: The court’s decision came just a day after it rejected an appeal by Ilir Meta, Kryemadhi’s ex-husband and Albania’s former president, against his arrest. In an open letter defending his position, Meta attributed the financial discrepancies under investigation to Kryemadhi, claiming she managed the family’s assets.
Meta elaborated that Kryemadhi oversaw property transactions and financial declarations, arguing he had acted in full compliance with Albanian asset declaration laws. He dismissed accusations of unreported expenditures as “politically motivated.”
Broader implications: The case adds to a series of investigations involving SPAK as it tackles endemic corruption, a key obstacle in Albania’s EU integration ambitions. The probe also includes allegations tied to the controversial CEZ-DIA affair, where Meta is accused of facilitating lucrative contracts for select business figures and passing clientelist laws favoring local oligarchs.
What’s next: The seized villas are part of an extensive corruption and money laundering investigation that implicates both Kryemadhi and Meta. SPAK is also examining the Freedom Party’s lobbying contracts with U.S.-based companies, raising concerns about potential misuse of funds for political gain.
Meanwhile, the Albanian public watches closely as these developments unfold, with hopes that judicial reforms will ensure transparency and accountability among the country’s political elite.
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