Albanian intelligence chief arrested, raising doubts over EU accession timeline
Vlora Hyseni, head of Albania's intelligence agency and close ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama, was detained on charges of leaking secrets and ties to the Albanian mafia, prompting concerns about the country's EU bid.
Albania's government faced a fresh blow when Vlora Hyseni, the director of the national intelligence service and a close associate of Prime Minister Edi Rama, was arrested for allegedly leaking classified data and maintaining links with the Albanian mafia. Born in Kosovo, Hyseni served as deputy director of Kosovo's secret services between 2019 and 2021 before being dismissed and later reinstated in Albania. Rama, who relies on Hyseni for insight into rival Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, now confronts heightened criticism from EU member states that see the intelligence-mafia connection as a deal-breaker for accession talks.
The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), created with EU support, has already pursued high-profile figures, including former president and prime minister Berisha and former president Meta, and recently detained infrastructure minister Belinda Baluku for alleged procurement fraud. The latest developments are expected to push back Albania's hoped-for EU entry, previously targeted for 2030.
Why it matters
The scandal threatens Albania's EU membership hopes by highlighting deep-seated corruption and organized-crime links in its government.
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