Edi Rama dismisses Vlora Hyseni as head of SHISH

In a post on social media, Prime Minister Edi Rama responded after SPAK took measures against SHISH Director Vlora Hyseni and former State Police chief Ilir Proda.

The head of government said that “the dismissal of the SHISH director is immediate.”

The prime minister also said that justice must investigate anyone, regardless of their public office or status.

Rama, who is in the United States, said that as soon as he returns to Albania, he will also appoint the new head of SHISH.

Prime Minister Rama’s statement:

Because of the time difference, this response from New York, where I am attending the UN General Assembly, may appear delayed, and I apologize for that.

I have been informed about the house arrest measure issued by SPAK against the director of the State Intelligence Service, and I expect every suspicion raised by the prosecution to be investigated and fully clarified through an independent judicial process.

Beyond my respect for the work and person of Vlora Hyseni, as well as beyond the continued appreciation she has received from partner agencies as head of Albania’s intelligence service, the irreversible path we have chosen is that of the independence of the justice institutions to investigate and judge anyone, regardless of their social status or public office.

But it also seems inevitable that every investigation or measure taken by the justice system against public figures should be turned into an excuse to tear people apart in the political and media arena and to call for the “rope,” as in medieval execution squares, long before the court has had its say.

Even so, it can in no way be true that the independent actions of the justice system and the continued affirmation of equality before the law should simultaneously serve as indictments against precisely the governing majority which, with courage and determination, opened the way for an independent justice system in a country where, until just a few years ago, such independence had been unimaginable for centuries.

Nor can these developments involving the justice system be used as ammunition against Albania, which on its path toward joining Europe is doing many things that still cannot even be imagined in other countries of the region, and which time will value better than anyone else.

Everyone is innocent until a final judgment is issued, but no one is above the law under any circumstances or for any reason. Therefore, I am grateful to Vlora Hyseni for everything she has done properly in the service of Albania, while regarding everything else related to the case recently opened by the justice institutions, my position remains the same as it was on the first day of the Justice Reform:

The innocence or guilt of a colleague placed under indictment is an individual matter before the prosecution and the court, and this governing majority, with me at its head, remains faithful to this position by not intervening in the merits of any justice case and by not acting as an advocate for anyone facing justice.

The dismissal of the director of the service is immediate, and as soon as I return to Tirana, in consultation with the President of the Republic, we will appoint the new head of the State Intelligence Service.