Prosecutors tasked with handling corruption cases in Albania today issued an arrest warrant for the head of the country’s state intelligence services, Vlora Hyseni, as part of a corruption investigation that also involves a senior police official.

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) said in a statement that it had ordered Hyseni to be suspended and placed under house arrest, as she is suspected of disclosing classified information.

According to local media, Vlora Hyseni is not currently in the country.

This is the latest corruption scandal to hit the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has been facing a challenge for months over a controversial plan for a tourist complex in the southern part of the country, backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

According to the prosecutor’s office statement, a criminal investigations official was also arrested.

Hyseni has headed Albania’s State Intelligence Service (SHISH) since 2023. Her appointment sparked controversy in Albania because of her Kosovar citizenship and her previous role as deputy head of Kosovo’s intelligence services, from which she was dismissed.

Former police chief Ilir Proda, who was dismissed earlier this year, also appeared before SPAK this morning as part of the same case.

The investigation is also targeting Ermal Bekiri – who was arrested in France at the end of August – and businessman Ergis Agasi, who was arrested on 26 August.