Vlora Hyseni, the head of the Albanian government intelligence service, has been sentenced to house arrest for two suspected crimes. The ruling was issued on September 22 while Hyseni was attending an international conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. She is accused of aiding a criminal and disclosing investigative secrets.
Investigations into Corruption
The investigation into Hyseni is part of a broader corruption case linked to the National Agency of Information Society (AKSHI). This agency is responsible for a significant portion of Albania's public digital infrastructure. Prosecutors suspect that Hyseni used her information as the head of intelligence to assist an individual who is being pursued in this investigation.
After Hyseni surrendered to Albanian authorities, she was sentenced to house arrest and removed from her position as head of the intelligence service. This case is the latest in a series of criminal cases unusually reaching high political and governmental levels in Albania.
Increase in Criminal Cases
In recent years, several high-ranking officials in Albania have been prosecuted. A former president has been in prison for nearly two years, a former prime minister is on trial, and the mayor of Tirana has been in jail since early 2025. Additionally, two former deputy prime ministers and high-ranking officials in government agencies that oversee public spending have been under investigation.
These cases are related to allegations of abuse of public power. According to Afrim Krasniqi, a political sociologist, it was expected that new judicial institutions would address high-level corruption cases. He also noted that in the past, corruption in Albania was accompanied by impunity.
This judicial reform has led to a restructuring of Albania's judicial system and the establishment of new institutions that deal with corruption and organized crime. However, Daniel Metliha, a lawyer and executive director of the civil organization "Res Publica," stated that the number of high-ranking officials currently under prosecution does not necessarily indicate an increase in corruption.
He added that progress in punishing corruption after it occurs is clearer, but we have been less effective in preventing it. As a result, there is a need to improve preventive mechanisms.
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