Vlora Hyseni: Profile of the World's Only Intelligence Chief to Lead Services in Two Countries

Vlora Hyseni: Profile of the World's Only Intelligence Chief to Lead Services in Two Countries

Personal Background

Vlora Ramush Hyseni is an ethnic Albanian national born in Kosovo, with a professional career deeply rooted in the security and intelligence sectors of the Western Balkans. While specific details on her early life, education, and family remain largely private—consistent with her low public profile as an intelligence operative—Hyseni is described as a multilingual expert in security issues and international relations, fluent in several foreign languages. Her full name, Vlora Ramush Hyseni, reflects her Kosovo origins, and she has navigated a complex regional landscape marked by ethnic tensions and post-conflict transitions.

Early Career in Kosovo's Intelligence Community

Hyseni's professional trajectory began in Kosovo's nascent intelligence apparatus following the country's 2008 independence from Serbia. She initially served in the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), Kosovo's primary civilian intelligence service responsible for national security, counter-espionage, and counter-terrorism. By February 2019, she was appointed Deputy Director of the AKI under President Hashim Thaçi and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, a role that positioned her at the heart of Kosovo's security policy amid ongoing disputes with Serbia and regional instability.

In late December 2020, following the dismissal of AKI Director Kreshnik Gashi, Hyseni assumed interim leadership of the agency. This four-month stint as acting head made her a key figure in managing sensitive operations, including surveillance of high-risk threats to public order and coordination with NATO partners. However, her tenure was short-lived and controversial. In April 2021, Prime Minister Albin Kurti suspended her from duties, citing violations of law and national security concerns. Kurti's administration accused her of hoarding sensitive information without sharing it with relevant Kosovo institutions (e.g., police, prosecution, anti-terror units) or NATO allies, effectively creating a "private archive" that undermined collaborative efforts. Further allegations emerged of her concentrating power, disclosing classified data to non-friendly entities, and maintaining ties to political figures like Thaçi, who faced war crimes charges at the time.

On June 30, 2021, President Vjosa Osmani formally dismissed Hyseni and barred her from future roles in Kosovo's national security structures. Critics, including opposition figures and media outlets, linked her dismissal to suspicions of espionage-like activities favoring Serbian interests or non-NATO actors, though no formal charges were filed. Albanian opposition leader Gazment Bardhi later highlighted these issues during her Albanian appointment, calling it a "disturbing" breach of integrity. Despite this, Hyseni transitioned smoothly to Albania, leveraging her regional expertise.

Transition to Albania and Appointment as SHISH Director

After her Kosovo dismissal, Hyseni relocated to Albania in July 2021, where she joined Prime Minister Edi Rama's inner circle as a security advisor. Operating from a discreet "hermetic office," she advised on national security amid Albania's EU accession push and Balkan tensions. Her low-profile role allowed her to rebuild influence, drawing on prior collaborations with Western intelligence agencies.

In March 2023, Rama nominated Hyseni as Director of Albania's State Intelligence Service (SHISH), the country's primary civilian intelligence agency tasked with foreign intelligence, counter-espionage, and counter-terrorism. President Bajram Begaj decreed her appointment on April 3, 2023, for a five-year term, making her the 11th director and the first woman in the role. This move marked a historic milestone: Hyseni became the world's only intelligence chief to have led the services of two sovereign countries—Kosovo and Albania—highlighting her unique cross-border expertise in a region still scarred by the 1990s Yugoslav wars.

Her appointment sparked debate. Proponents, including Rama, praised her "outstanding preparation" and "respect in the international intelligence community" as a guarantee for SHISH's reform. Detractors, including Albania's Democratic Party, decried it as a "personal provocation" to Kosovo and Rama's politicization of intelligence, urging Begaj to probe her dismissal reasons. Media reports tied her rise to ties with former Romanian spy chief Florian Coldea, who allegedly helped redesign SHISH's operations along SRI (Romanian Intelligence Service) lines—ironically similar to models used by Russia's FSB and Serbia's BIA.

Leadership of SHISH: Reforms, Operations, and International Role

Under Hyseni's direction, SHISH has expanded its footprint in Europe's security landscape, punching above its weight despite Albania's small size. Key priorities include:

Countering Foreign Interference: Hyseni has led efforts against Russian and Serbian espionage, including operations targeting Albanian institutions and the Albanian diaspora. In July 2024, she reported to Albania's parliament on thwarting hostile activities by these actors, emphasizing SHISH's role in exposing networks linked to organized crime and hybrid threats.

Migration and Regional Crises: SHISH has been instrumental in addressing Libyan migrant flows, Iranian meddling, and Russian assaults on European stability. A September 2025 Intelligence Online report credits Hyseni with elevating SHISH's influence in dossiers like migration control and countering foreign meddling, positioning Albania as a key player in EU security challenges.

Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime: Enhanced cooperation with Albanian law enforcement (e.g., SPAK anti-corruption unit) has focused on anti-terror, anti-trafficking, and cyber threats. Hyseni has highlighted social media as a growing security risk, warning of its use in radicalization and disinformation.

Internal Reforms: Hyseni has restructured SHISH, dissolving leadership in key cities amid suspicions of collusion with organized crime and information leaks. She has also integrated advanced surveillance tools, though allegations persist of illegal acquisitions from Serbia and China, bypassing NATO protocols.

Her tenure has not been without scandal. In August 2024, reports accused her of overseeing unauthorized wiretapping of journalists, prosecutors, and politicians, including Rama's rivals, using "external experts" like Kristaq Sterjo and Mimoza Xharo. A April 2025 exposé claimed she paid €6,000 monthly from secret funds to Andi Haxhiu—son of alleged UDB (Yugoslav secret service) spy Baton Haxhiu—for NATO-related intel, raising integrity concerns. Former President Sali Berisha alleged a secret 2025 Belgrade visit, labeling it a "threat to Kosovo's security." Hyseni has also faced criticism for ties to sanctioned figures and potential Serbian links, echoing her Kosovo controversies.

International Engagements and Recognition

Hyseni's global stature stems from her Western alignments. In February 2025, she hosted NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence Scott W. Bray in Tirana, discussing intelligence-sharing for the alliance's committees. A high point came in May-June 2025, when she visited Washington for meetings with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, ODNI head Tulsi Gabbard, and State Department officials. These talks reinforced U.S.-Albanian strategic ties, focusing on threat prevention and regional stability. Kosovo's former Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi publicly praised her as a "true, hard-working patriot."

In September 2025, Intelligence Online dubbed her leadership a "rising influence," noting SHISH's role in Libya and European affairs. Despite domestic critiques, her cross-border experience has made her a bridge between Kosovo and Albania's security apparatuses, though it fuels accusations of divided loyalties.

Controversies and Criticisms

Hyseni's dual-country leadership invites scrutiny. In Kosovo, her dismissal was framed as protecting national interests from leaks to "unfriendly" services. In Albania, opposition voices portray her as Rama's "personal tool," eroding SHISH's independence. Allegations of mafia ties, illegal surveillance, and non-NATO equipment sourcing persist, with media like Pamfleti claiming she targets critics in a "paranoid" operation. Yet, supporters argue these reflect her aggressive stance against real threats, substantiated by parliamentary reports on foiled espionage.

Legacy and Outlook

At 50+ (estimated), Hyseni embodies the post-Yugoslav intelligence evolution: a female trailblazer in a male-dominated field, leveraging Balkan expertise for Euro-Atlantic integration. Her story underscores the porous borders of Albanian national identity but also the risks of politicized security. As SHISH navigates Trump's U.S. shifts and Balkan volatility, Hyseni's term—ending 2028—could solidify Albania's intelligence prowess or deepen divides. Her unique distinction as a binational intel chief remains unchallenged, a testament to resilience amid controversy