According to SPAK, the charges include “laundering the proceeds of crime,” “passive corruption by high-level officials,” and “failure to declare, concealment, or false declaration of assets and private interests.

Meta’s defense lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, dismissed the accusations as unsubstantiated, saying prosecutors had presented no new evidence in their case, as formal charges were delivered over the CEZ-DIA affair and alleged lobbying payments linked to the former LSI party.

Speaking to local media, he said the six-year investigation had produced “nothing new” and criticized the prosecution for failing to identify the source of payments related to U.S. lobbying efforts.

“Meta has provided detailed explanations and requested clarification on who made the lobbying payments. SPAK has not provided any evidence or information in this regard,” Cakrani said, adding that the indictment comprises only 30 pages and lacks concrete proof.

He further stated that the defense would not seek a shortened trial, opting instead for a full judicial process.

Meta, who also served as Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, has been in pre-trial detention since October 2024. The case will now proceed to trial through standard court procedure.

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