Sourced fact
The News
On September 22, Flora Hoxhini, head of Albania's National Intelligence Service, was arrested after the Special Court ordered her house arrest due to allegations of supporting a criminal and disclosing the secrecy of the investigation. Hoxhini was in Baku, Azerbaijan, to attend an international conference for heads of intelligence services. This case comes in the context of a series of criminal cases involving high-level political and government officials in Albania, including former presidents, ministers, and senior officials, all related to the abuse of public power.
The investigation into Hoxhini's case stems from a broader corruption case involving the National Information Society Agency (AKSHI), which is responsible for Albania's public digital infrastructure. Prosecutors suspect that Hoxhini used the information available to her as head of the intelligence service to assist a person wanted in this case. Upon her return, Hoxhini surrendered to Albanian authorities and was dismissed from her position.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, these developments are part of Albania's efforts to combat corruption since 2016, when the country launched judicial reforms aimed at fighting corruption and organized crime. However, Dorian Matlija, a lawyer for Albania's civil society organization "Res Publica," believes that these efforts have not achieved the necessary progress in preventing corruption before it occurs. He adds that institutions and procedures that are supposed to work before a case becomes criminal, such as administrative oversight and conflict of interest disclosure, are often ineffective.
In a broader context, Aferdita Krasniqi, a political scientist from the Tirana Institute of Political Studies, argues that the Socialist Party's control of government since 2013 has weakened political balances and oversight of the executive branch. He believes this control has led to the emergence of informal networks of influence that impact political decisions, legislation, and public resources.
On the other hand, Matlija sees that efforts towards European integration have contributed to enhancing the independence of institutions such as "SPAK" and have pressured them to work effectively and independently from political powers. Krasniqi emphasizes that real change should be felt by citizens through increased social security, prosperity, and independence, not just through formal achievements.
