The news of the suspension from duty and placing the director of SHISH, Vlora Hyseni, under "house arrest" has received widespread international attention.
The prestigious news agency Reuters writes that an Albanian court has suspended the country's intelligence chief and ordered her house arrest on suspicion of revealing classified information, as part of a wider corruption investigation, citing the special prosecutor's office.
“Vlora Hyseni, who is originally from Kosovo, has served as the head of the SHISH intelligence service since 2023. Previously, she served as the deputy chief of intelligence in Kosovo.
Prosecutors said Hyseni was suspected of disclosing classified information to unauthorized persons in connection with a corruption case at the National Agency for the Information Society (AKSHI), which manages public digital services and IT infrastructure in Albania. The special prosecutor's office, known as SPAK, has long been pursuing the case. Hyseni could not be reached for comment. Reuters reports.
According to the news agency, many state officials and businessmen have been arrested or are being investigated for misuse of public money at the National Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“SPAK, which targets corruption and organized crime, said the measures against Hyseni were approved by an anti-corruption court to allow for further investigations. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said he had already dismissed Hyseni from her duties and, in consultation with the president, would appoint a new head of the intelligence agency,” Reuters writes.
"Everyone is innocent until a final court decision is made, but no one is above the law," Rama wrote in X.
According to Reuters, the move is another setback for Rama's government. In February, Rama fired his deputy prime minister, Belinda Balluku, after corruption charges were filed against her. Parliament later refused to lift her immunity to allow her arrest. Balluku denied the charges.
“European Union officials have told Reuters that they are closely examining Rama's handling of corruption cases and that Albania's fight against crime and corruption was critical to the Balkan country's bid to join the bloc by 2030,” Reuters writes. ©LAPSI.al
