Court in Albania sentences an Iranian to 15 years in prison for terrorism

The decision on Bijan Pauladrag was handed down on Wednesday. It will serve only ten years in prison, as it benefits lowering the sentence because of the reduced trial.

Of the six charges the Special Prosecutor brought against him, the court found guilty of two of them: participation in a terrorist organisation and carrying out services and actions with people declared terrorist organisations.

Pauladrag was arrested in October 2020. Several other Iranian citizens were arrested at the time.

He arrived in Albania in 2016, as part of a group of Iranians who found refuge in the Manza camp, where there are currently about 3,000 members of the Iranian People's Organisation (MEK) after the U.S. request.

Iranian officials view its members as terrorists.

According to the prosecution, Pauladrag resided for a certain period at the camp, where he acted as an undercover, while allegedly preparing a terrorist attack.

After about two years, he had been removed from the camp after receiving permission to stay in Albania. After the arrest, Poladrag received messages and conversations exchanged with several people living in Iran who are allegedly part of the Revolutionary Guard.

On 7 September, the Albanian government suspended diplomatic relations with Iran and declared Iran lags behind cyber attacks on government systems

Iranian authorities have dismissed allegations that they are behind the July attacks.

However, NATO's military alliance has confirmed that Iran has been behind that attack.

The United States has sanctioned the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and the head of this institution, accusing them of staying behind the July cyber attack on Albania