Russian and Ukrainian intruders into Albanian military factory intruders in court

Record ID: 1686051

  • Title: Russian and Ukrainian intruders into Albanian military factory intruders in court
  • Date: 24th August 2022
  • Summary: ELBASAN, ALBANIA (AUGUST 24, 2022) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN, MIKAHIL ZORIN, BEING SPOKEN TO BY COURT WORKER ZORIN CLOSE UP RUSSIAN, SVETLANA TIMOFEEVA, AND SECURITY IN COURT ZORIN'S HANDCUFFS BEING REMOVED LEGAL TEAM IN COURT ZORIN AND TIMOFEEVA BEHIND GLASS JUDGE COURTROOM ZORIN, SVETLANA TIMOFEEVA AND UKRAINIAN FEDIR ALPATOV ALPATOV HIDING HIS FACE DEFENDANTS AND COURTROOM STANDING FOR THE JUDGE CLOSE UP OF THE DEFENDANTS STANDING ZORIN AND TIMOFEEVA BEING LED OUT IN HANDCUFFS EXTERIOR OF ALBANIAN COURTHOUSE
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2022 15:17
  • Keywords: albania balkans nato russia spying war in ukraine
  • Location: ELBASAN, ALBANIA
  • City: ELBASAN, ALBANIA
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA001039724082022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Two Russians and a Ukrainian, who had tried to enter a military factory in Albania, faced trial in Elbasan on Wednesday (August 24).
    Albania said it was investigating why the men tried to access the Gramsh military factory, where they were caught late on Saturday (August 20).
    The Albanian Defence Ministry said that two of its soldiers had been slightly injured while detaining a 24-year-old man from Russia who had entered the grounds and was trying to take photos. He resisted arrest and used spray against the soldiers.
    Two others, a 33-year-old Russian woman and a Ukrainian man aged 25, were arrested nearby.
    Defense Minister Niko Peleshi visited the injured soldiers in hospital on Sunday (August 21) and said it was too early to be sure about the motive but referred to geopolitics - apparently indicating a possible link to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been criticised by the Albanian government.
    Tirana-based media said the three suspects were bloggers who often visited abandoned military bases and other big plants in different countries.
    Peleshi said the investigation would show if they were bloggers and what their motives were.
    The ministry's website says the plant now provides manufacturing services for the defence industry. In the past, it was also used to dismantle small arms and ammunition.
    Albania, a member of NATO since 2009, has joined the United States and other western countries to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has introduced sanctions against Moscow.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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