TIRANA, September 27 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama stated today that investigating and trying Vlora Hyseni is strictly the job of the justice system. At the same time, the entire state has a duty to protect the State Intelligence Service—and other agencies—from needless harm.
In a statement to the media from the press room at “Mother Teresa” International Airport, immediately upon his return from the United States, Rama emphasized: “I have just returned from New York, where, as you know, I represented Albania during the United Nations General Assembly week. I decided to come straight here to ‘Mother Teresa’ Airport because the developments of recent days—following the house arrest order for the former head of the Intelligence Service—require an immediate and direct, face-to-face address. It was undoubtedly an extreme measure, given that it involved exposing a key state institution. However, I have neither the right nor the intention to delve into the contents of the case file, the assessment of the evidence or the reasons that led the prosecution to request—and the court to order—that measure,” said Rama.
The head of government stated, “I have never done so before and I will not do so in this instance either. Any reasonable suspicion regarding this process must be fully investigated. Any accusation leveled against anyone must be either proven or dismissed through an independent, impartial and due judicial process.”
“Any measure restricting the liberty of an individual—provided they do not hold parliamentary immunity—ordered by the prosecution can only be challenged in court, not from the Prime Minister’s podium or political rostrums. These guiding principles governing my conduct and that of the ruling majority regarding individual judicial cases have been, and remain, the standard for everyone,” Rama said.
However, Rama continued, respect for the independence of the judiciary does not imply silence when a matter of principle arises during the course of its operations. “Specifically in this case, beyond the individual criminal matter, there is another fundamental issue concerning the state—one that cannot simply be overlooked as if it never happened. During the imposition of the measure and the judicial handling of the case file, an institution of particular sensitivity regarding state security and reputation was exposed to the risk of severe damage—damage that could and should have been entirely prevented. It took the investigative file’s data flooding through social media channels and media outlets before the court ordered—far too late—restrictions on their publication; an order that, naturally, met with no success,” Rama emphasized.
Further on, PM Rama stated, “When an investigation reaches the level of the country’s intelligence chief, it is no longer merely an issue for an independent branch of government; it becomes a matter concerning the entire state. Consequently, this seemingly casual approach has left all our partners speechless. In other words, while it is certainly not the first time in history that the head of an intelligence service has been charged as a defendant, it is the first time that the intelligence agency itself has become the subject of national and international media gossip—all because none of the standard measures that states typically adopt in such an unfortunate situation were taken.”
Furthermore, PM Rama remarked, “The separation of powers can by no means be interpreted as a detachment from state responsibility—a point we have encountered before. The time has therefore come for us to address this matter collectively and seriously.”
“I believe the Security Council, set to convene tomorrow by the President of the Republic, is the right forum to reflect on institutional responsibilities and discuss the safeguards needed to protect our institutions—especially those concerning national security—when their leaders or employees go off track and become the subject of a criminal investigation,” said Rama. /p.s./
