The corruption trial of Albania’s former president Ilir Meta, a fierce opponent of Prime Minister Edi Rama, opened on Monday, the latest in a series of high-profile graft cases in the Balkan nation.

Meta, along with his ex-wife, former mother-in-law, and two other defendants, is charged with passive corruption, money laundering, and false declaration of assets.

The former president has been in detention since his arrest in October 2024, when he returned to Albania from Kosovo.

He denies the allegations, which relate to alleged offences spanning several years, including his time as economy minister in 2010, and has described the case as “purely political.”

As the trial began, Meta—standing in a glass enclosure in the courtroom—requested that the proceedings be broadcast live.

“Out of respect for the citizens to whom I have served with dedication, I publicly request that the special court guarantees the live broadcast of this entire trial,” he said.

Once an ally of Rama, Meta has held some of the highest offices in Albania since the fall of communism in 1991.

He entered parliament in 1992, served as prime minister from 1999 to 2002, and held several senior posts before being elected president in 2017, a largely ceremonial role he left in 2022.

A string of corruption cases in Albania has targeted high-profile politicians from across the political spectrum.

A separate trial is underway for former prime minister Sali Berisha, while allegations have also been raised against former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku.

Tackling corruption remains a key condition for Albania’s bid to join the European Union.

The next hearing is due on May 11.