She was accused of espionage after she was caught in the Gramsh plant, the Russian seeks political asylum in Albania, here's what to expect

The Russian citizen, Svetlana Timofeeva, accused of espionage by the Albanian authorities, has requested political asylum in Albania.

Timofeeva, 33 years old from Russia, was arrested on August 20, 2022 along with two other citizens, Mikhail Zorin, 23 years old from Russia and Fedir Aplatov from Ukraine, after they tried to enter the premises of the arms factory in Gramsh and threw neuro-paralyzing spray on two soldiers guarding the military facility.

She is being detained in the women's prison in Tirana, while the case against her is being tried in the court of Elbasan, since the area where the incident took place, Gramshi, is included in this district.

On March 10, the defense lawyer of the Russian citizen addressed the request for asylum to the Regional Border and Migration Directorate, Tirana. The request comes three months after Moscow requested her extradition, as she is accused of "Illegal obtaining of information, which constitutes a state secret".

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

Her defense lawyer, Isuf Shehu, emphasized that this Russian citizen may be persecuted in her country.

"There is reason to believe that she will be subjected to persecution or discrimination or cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment or actions that constitute a violation of basic human rights. The return of this citizen to Russia would be contrary to the prohibition of torture and inhumane and humiliating treatment", says the request submitted to the Albanian authorities.

The defense also points out that the Russian authorities are using an old criminal proceeding (from 2018) which they used to reopen it, after they became familiar with her positions against the war in Ukraine, expressed on social networks. Furthermore, the fact that Svetlana's ex-husband is a supporter of the policy of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and political convictions have been the main cause of their separation is also underlined.

Në kërkesën për azil politik kthehen në vëmendje raporte të disa organizatave ndërkombëtare, që theksojnë se Rusia nuk respekton të drejtat dhe liritë themelore të njeriut, si dhe faktin se prokurori i Përgjithshëm i Federatës Ruse, Igor Viktorovich Krasnov, që ka firmosur kërkesën për ekstradimin e saj, është në “listën e zezë” të Shteteve të Bashkuara.

Avokati thekson se Ligji për azilin në Republikën e Shqipërisë parashikon garantimin e së drejtës për azil për shtetasit e huaj që refuzojnë të kthehen në vendin e tyre dhe kujton se sipas një vendimi të Këshillit të Ministrave të Shqipërisë të vitit 2022, Rusia nuk është pjesë e listës së shteteve të treta të sigurta.

Tre të akuzuarit për spiunazh, Svetlana Timofeeva, Mikhail Zorin dhe Fedir Aplatov u kapën duke fotografuar uzinën e Gramshit, ndërsa në sendet personale të tyre u gjetën disa materiale të disa pikave të rëndësishme që njihen si infrastrukturë kritike ushtarake në Shqipëri. Uzina ushtarake në Gramsh ka armatime të ushtrisë brenda saj dhe është objekt i rëndësisë së veçantë që ruhet nga ushtria shqiptare.

They were arrested and charged with "Giving secret information" and "Assault due to duty". The same security measure was left in effect by the Court of Appeal, after their annihilation. The two Russian citizens and the Ukrainian appealed again to the Supreme Court. The request of Fedir Alpatov was not accepted, while the appeal of Svetlana Timofeeva and Mikhail Zorin have not yet been considered by the Supreme Court. The three accused of espionage and their lawyers oppose the charges./ REL