“China, an unfriendly country” / SHISH: Beijing and Moscow sponsor cyber attacks

This is the conclusion of what Helidon Bendo, head of the State Intelligence Service, said in a closed-door session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.

For the first time, the Albanian intelligence has shared with the public a part of Mr. Bendo’s speech in this commission.

Helidon Bendo: The activity of opposing states / intelligence services has continued with an increasing combination of intelligence activities with those of a hybrid nature, such as malignant influential activities, propaganda and disinformation, divisive narratives and influential on public perception.

On condition of anonymity, two members of this parliamentary commission told Top Channel that the director of SHISH has specifically mentioned Russia and China as involved in disinformation operations and cyber attacks. Mr. Bendo is also quoted as expressing concern about some non-governmental organizations sponsored by secret services not friendly to Albania.

Helidon Bendo has spoken about another security risk.

Bendo: These countries and services unfriendly to Albania, use cyber attacks, gathering sensitive information through interference in computer networks, for cyber espionage purposes, to carry out information / psychological influence activities / operations.

The head of SHISH also spoke about the destabilizing activity of third countries in the region.

Bendo: The situation in the region has been characterized by fragile domestic political developments, which have brought about governance instability in some states. Interstate disputes are being used by third countries to keep the situation in the region destabilized, in order to hinder or delay the EU and NATO integration processes of certain countries in the region.

Interstate disputes include northern Macedonia with Bulgaria as well as Kosovo with Serbia.

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