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Head of Kosovo intelligence agency resigns

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

The head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), Bashkim Smakaj, resigned on Friday after a series of the agency's reported scandals.

Kosovo leader Atifete Jahjaga and "Prime Minister" Isa Mustafa approved the resignation as they have shared authority in appointing and dismissing the head of the secret agency.

In a joint press statement they praised his six years' leadership and performance in establishing and managing the agency, though in recent months a number of scandals involving the agency were reported.

Smakaj was allegedly asked to resign or face a dismissal from the top officials.

Media reported that Smakaj was responsible for breaching the rules of employment, abusing with tenders, avoiding reporting to parliamentary bodies of the Kosovo Assembly, and involvement in kidnapping attempts.

In October 2014 Smakaj was reappointed for a five year term, but shortly after a scandal involving the agency broke up, given that a member of the agency was uncovered and killed in Syria during a secret operation to bring back to Kosovo a six-year-old son of a Kosovo member of ISIS. Endit