SPAK probe into former SHISH chief: protecting the institution is the duty of the whole state, Rama says; case to be taken up by National Security Council

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a message to Albanians from the press hall at “Nënë Tereza” International Airport, spoke about the start of SPAK investigations into former SHISH chief Vlora Hyseni, who is under house arrest.

Rama said every suspicion must be investigated to the end and every accusation proven through an independent judicial process, but added that the situation had damaged the institution itself and national security.

Rama emphasized that every suspicion and accusation must be investigated and proven through an independent judicial process, while measures restricting freedom, he said, can only be challenged in court.

“After the house-arrest measure for the former head of SHISH, they require immediate and direct addressing. It was undoubtedly an extreme measure considering that a very key institution was exposed. Every suspicion must be investigated to the end, every accusation raised against anyone must be proven through an independent judicial process. Every measure restricting freedoms, imposed by the prosecution body for anyone without parliamentary immunity, is challenged only in court and not with the prime minister. Respect for the independence of justice does not mean silence even when a principled concern emerges during its investigative activity. Concretely, in this case there is another troubling state fact that cannot be overlooked,” Rama said.

He dwelled in particular on the impact of exposing the institution itself, arguing that its protection is the responsibility of the entire state. Rama added that the investigation of Vlora Hyseni must not be confused with the need to protect the institution and its functioning.

“During the imposition of the measure, an institution of special importance was exposed to the potential of great damage that could have been avoided. When the work brings it that the investigation climbs to the head of SHISH, this is no longer a problem of the independent power, but a problem of the whole state. Therefore, this loose approach has left all our partners speechless. It is not the first time a secret service chief is taken as defendant, but it is the first time in world history that the secret service institution becomes the target of media gossip. The investigation of Vlora Hyseni is undoubtedly in the hands of the prosecution, but the protection of the institution and the damage brought by its exposure is the duty of the whole state,” Rama said.

Rama asked that the situation be handled institutionally and said the meeting of the National Security Council, convened by the President, is the place where responsibilities and guarantees for protecting security institutions should be discussed.

He said the protection of the institution and the avoidance of damage that its exposure may cause are the responsibility of the entire state, while the investigation of Vlora Hyseni remains in the hands of the justice bodies.

“The time has come to treat this seriously. The Security Council, convened tomorrow by the President, is the right place to reflect on institutional responsibilities and discuss the guarantees that must protect our institutions when their leaders or employees slip off the rails and become subject to criminal investigation. No one can claim that the media preserve the investigative secret. The problem does not start with the informal spokespeople of the justice courtyard on screens. They are used by prosecutors and judges to declare people guilty before trial begins, just as in a dictatorship, where after propaganda tools finish the job, the trial remains a formality. This problem, which starts with the legalized illegality inside the courtyard of justice, where the investigative secret is abused to lynch, cannot be overlooked,” Rama said.