BELGRADE, Serbia

Former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested for alleged money laundering, according to local media on Monday.

Meta was arrested near a shopping center in the capital Tirana, reported Top Channel TV. It added that the ex-president had just returned from Kosovo.

The left-wing Freedom Party leader had a press conference scheduled on Monday, and he was arrested on his way to party headquarters, reported party officials.

Meta, 55, is accused of money laundering, corruption, and failure to declare assets.

The arrest reportedly came after an order of the Special Prosecutor's Office for the Fight against Corruption.

Meta was president of Albania from 2017 to 2022.

He also served as a prime minister and foreign minister and in other top posts.

The police and prosecutors have yet to issue an official statement on the arrest.