Albanian secret service director Helidon Bendo resigns

 The President of Albania Bajram Begaj signing the resignation of Elidon Bido

 The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, decreed today the dismissal of the director of the State Information Service, Helidon Bendo.

"In support of Article 93 of the Constitution, as well as Article 5, paragraph 2, of Law no. 8391, dated 28.10.1998, "On the National Information Service", amended, at the proposal of the Prime Minister, I decree:

Mr. Helidon Bendo is released from the position of director of the National Intelligence Service", the decree states.

Decree of the President of Albania for the dismissal of the director of the Albanian Secret Service Helidon Bendo

Meanwhile, after a few hours, Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted to the resignation of Helidon Bendo, head of SHISH.

 Helidon Bendo and Prime Minister Rama in the latter's office, source Facebook

In a post on social networks, Rama states that Bendo has submitted his resignation due to the continuation of his postgraduate studies at the College of International and Security Studies, at the National Defense University in the United States.

Rama emphasizes that he will be engaged in the future as an adviser to the prime minister for the reform of security institutions.

"With Helidon Bendon, the Director of the State Intelligence Service, who, due to continuing his postgraduate studies at the College of International and Security Studies, at the National Defense University in the United States, has submitted his resignation. He will be engaged in the future as an adviser to the prime minister for the reform of security institutions", said Rama.

After the resignation of Visho Ajazi Lika, Prime Minister Rama and former President Ilir Meta discussed about Ajazi's resignation. In the meeting, Rama proposed Helidon Bendon as the head of the Albanian Inteligence Services known locally as "SHISH".

Bendo previously held the post of Deputy Director of SHISH.

After the resignation of Visho Ajazi, Helidon Bendo has been appointed as the head of SHISH. The news is confirmed by the Prime Ministry itself through an announcement, while it was approved by former president Meta after a 30-minute meeting in the Presidency.

But who is Helidon Bendo, the new head of the State Intelligence Service?

Helidon Bendo was born on May 12, 1971, in the city of Korça. He is married and has two children.

He graduated in 1993 in mathematics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. Also, the new head of SHISH has a master's degree in security studies, as well as a three-month training in the field of security at Georgetown University in the USA.

In addition, Bendo has also conducted a series of training on security issues inside and outside the country. He speaks English and Greek.

He was appointed as the deputy director of SHISH on April 22, 2016, while before taking this position, for 7 years Bendo held the position of Director of the Directorate in the Central Apparatus of SHISH.

Bendo has 21 years of experience in SHISH, where he has held various positions as Field Inspector, Head of Branch, Director of Directorates in several Districts of the country, and Director of Directorates at the Central Apparatus.

In addition, Bendo has also conducted a series of training on security issues inside and outside Albania.