Albania won't extradite Russian accused of spying

The Russian citizen herself has made no statements during the trial hearing, while her defence attorney welcomed the decision, writes Radio Free Europe, broadcasts Klan Kosova.

It was the right decision, based on law. If this citizen were extradited to Russia to be persecuted, life would be at risk, as her stand against [Russian president Vladimir's regime] is known. Putin”, said Fatmir Lushi, a Russian national defence lawyer.

Svetlana Timofeeva, 33, from Russia, was arrested on 20 August 2022 along with two other citizens -- Mikhail Zorin, 23, from Russia, and Fedir Aplatov from Ukraine -- after attempting to enter the weapons plant facilities in Grams and throw neuro-premative spray on the two soldiers who were guarding this military facility.

She is being held in custody at the women's prison in Tirana, while the case against her is tried at the Elbasan Court, as the area where the event took place, Gramshi, is included in the district.

In December 2022, Russian authorities handed over to the Ministry of Justice in Albania the requirement for the extradition of 33 years to which an arrest warrant was issued, charging that it illegally provided classified information.

The request was then forwarded to the Elbasan Court, and after the court heard Timofeeva's defense claims, the prosecution also withdrew from its request for extradition, so and the verdict of the Elbasan Court was expected.

Meanwhile, there is not yet a decision on asylum demand that the Russian national defence lawyer has addressed to the Regional Directorate of Borders and Migration, Tirana. The request was made on March 10th, about three months after Moscow requested its extradition.

If I return to the Russian Federation, I will be persecuted because of my own political beliefs”, the 33-year-old Russian claimed.

Her defence lawyer, Isuf Shehu, stressed that this Russian national can be persecuted in her country.

There is reason to think that it will be subjected to persecution or discrimination or wild, inhuman, degrading, or human rights violations. The return of this citizen to Russia would be contrary to the prevention of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment”, the demand handed over to Albanian authorities.

The Russian citizen's defense also stresses that Russian authorities are using an old criminal prosecution (of 2018) that they have exploited to reopen because they have been familiar with its anti-war positions in Ukraine, expressed on social networks. Also highlighted is the fact that Svetlana Timofeeva's former husband is a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin's policy, and political beliefs have been the main cause of their division.

In the call for political asylum, reports of several international organisations -- stressing that Russia does not respect fundamental human rights and freedoms -- as well as the fact that Russian Federation General Prosecutor Igor Viktorovich Krasnov, who has signed the requirement for its extradition, is in the United States' <x0-seconds blackist”.

Three spying indictees, Svetlana Timofeeva, Mikhail Zorin and Fedir Applatov, were caught photographing the Gramshi plant, while in their personal belongings some materials of some important points known as critical military infrastructure were found in Albania. The military plant in Gramsh has army weapons inside it and is the object of the particular importance preserved by the Albanian Army.

They were placed in prison custody and charged with “Task blast”. The same degree of security went into effect by the Court of Appeals after their signing. Two Russian and Ukrainian citizens again complained in the Supreme Court. Fedir Alpatov's request was denied, while the complaint by Svetlana Timofeeva and Mikhail Zorin has not yet been reviewed by the Supreme Court. The three accused of spying and their lawyers object to the charges.