Vlora Hyseni, director of the Albanian State Intelligence Service (SHISH), has been placed under house arrest as part of an investigation conducted in her country.
Modern.az reports, citing local media, that the decision was made while Hyseni was attending an international conference of intelligence chiefs in Baku.
According to the Albanian Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), the court decided to remove Hyseni from her state duties and place her under house arrest. The decision was made as part of a large-scale investigation into state tenders. The prosecution suspects Hyseni of assisting a criminal and disclosing state secrets.
However, the decision could not be immediately enforced. This is because Hyseni was in Azerbaijan, at an international conference attended by heads of intelligence and special services, when the investigative bodies searched her apartment.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced from New York that Hyseni had been immediately dismissed from her post. Rama noted that he would consult with President Bajram Begaj regarding the appointment of a new head to replace Hyseni. The Prime Minister also emphasized that the court must independently decide whether Hyseni is guilty or innocent.
Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, accused Hyseni of transferring intelligence information to criminals. He also claimed that Hyseni was removed from the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA) in 2021. However, these political claims made by Berisha have not been confirmed by the prosecution. Vlora Hyseni has led the Albanian State Intelligence Service since April 2023. Before that, she served as deputy director of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency and later as Edi Rama's advisor on national security issues. In 2025, Hyseni also chaired NATO's Civilian Intelligence Committee.
It should be noted that the Albanian authorities emphasized that individuals named in the investigation are considered innocent until the final court decision comes into force.
