The Special Court against Corruption and Organised Crime (GJKKO) has ordered the security measure of “house arrest” and suspension from office for the head of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), Vlora Hyseni. According to information released in connection with the investigation, Hyseni is suspected of the criminal offences of “supporting the perpetrator of a crime” and “disclosure of secret acts or data”. These are allegations made as part of an ongoing investigation and do not constitute a final finding of guilt.
Former SHISH chief Vlora Hyseni turned herself in at the Kosovo border. Kosovo media reported that she was detained while returning from a trip to Baku.
Hyseni was outside the country when SPAK and GJKKO took action against her. Earlier in the day, it was reported that she was in Baku, where she had attended an international conference with heads of intelligence services. For this reason, the security measure could not initially be enforced.
Earlier, the Special Court, at SPAK’s request, had ordered Hyseni to be placed under house arrest, while she was suspended from her position as head of SHISH. According to SPAK, Hyseni is under investigation for the criminal offences of “supporting the perpetrator of a crime” and “disclosure of secret acts or data”.
The investigation is part of a separate strand of the case linked to businessman Ergys Agasi. According to SPAK, the investigation has been conducted as part of criminal proceeding No. 20/1 of 2025. As part of the same operation, searches were carried out at several premises and residences, including the home of former General Director of the State Police Ilir Proda.
SPAK suspects that Hyseni supported the perpetrator of a crime and disclosed classified state information. According to reports, the new investigation into her was launched following the examination of materials seized during the investigation into Ergys Agasi, including data from electronic devices and other materials collected by prosecutors.
There was no arrest warrant for Hyseni in Kosovo, and she surrendered to the Albanian authorities when crossing the border at Vërmica.
Who is Vlora Hyseni?
Vlora Hyseni has a long career in intelligence and security. She worked for several years at the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), where she initially served as Director of Foreign Relations and, from 2019, as Deputy Director.
On 30 June 2021, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti decided to dismiss Hyseni from her position as Deputy Director of the KIA.
The statement issued at the time by the Government of Kosovo did not provide details about the reasons for her dismissal. It only stated that the decision had been taken pursuant to the law on the Kosovo Intelligence Agency.
According to the statement, the decision required Hyseni to hand over all equipment and materials entrusted to her and to safeguard information obtained during the performance of her duties, including classified information.
The government’s statement at the time also stressed that the disclosure of or failure to safeguard classified information constituted a criminal offence and was punishable by law.
After leaving her position, Hyseni became an adviser to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The Path to Leading SHISH
On 17 March 2023, Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed Vlora Hyseni to lead the State Intelligence Service. Her nomination was accompanied at the time by political reactions and debate regarding her previous work in Kosovo’s intelligence institutions.
On 3 April 2023, President Bajram Begaj appointed Hyseni as head of SHISH, replacing Helidon Bendo.
After more than three years at the helm of the institution, Hyseni is now under the security measure of “house arrest” and has been suspended from office as part of SPAK’s investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and judicial authorities are expected to release further details about the circumstances and evidence in the case.
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