Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended the independence of the country's judicial institutions while raising concerns over the way an investigation involving State Intelligence Service chief Vlora Hyseni has been handled and made public.

Rama said his government remained committed to allowing individual criminal cases to be dealt with through an independent and impartial judicial process.

"Any allegation raised against anyone must be proven or dismissed through an independent, impartial and proper judicial process," he said.

He added that decisions by prosecutors to restrict an individual's freedom should be challenged in court rather than through statements by the prime minister or political parties.

However, he said the Hyseni case also raised a broader issue because of the sensitivity of the institution she leads.

He argued that the disclosure of information from the investigation had exposed an institution of particular importance to Albania's national security and could potentially damage the country's reputation.

"Respect for the independence of justice does not mean remaining silent when a matter of principle emerges during the activity of its institutions," Rama said.

He underlined that the information from the investigative file had circulated through social media and news outlets before the court ordered restrictions on its publication, adding that the measures had come too late to prevent its dissemination.

Rama also linked the issue to Albania's relations with international partners, saying that the handling of the case had caused concern among them.

"When an investigation reaches the head of the country's intelligence service, this is no longer simply the problem of an independent branch of power. It is a problem for the entire state," he said.

Rama stressed that he was not questioning the judicial process itself, but the handling and disclosure of sensitive information connected to the case.

He said it was not unusual for intelligence chiefs to face criminal investigations, but argued that the public exposure of sensitive information relating to the intelligence service presented a separate concern for the state.

The investigation into Hyseni remains a judicial matter, and any allegations against her are subject to the ongoing legal process.