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Two Russians, One Ukrainian Arrested As Alleged Spies In Albania

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service August 21, 2022

Albanian authorities have arrested two Russians and one Ukrainian who were trying to enter a military plant in the central Albania, the country's Defense Ministry said in a statement on August 20.

The ministry said two Albanian soldiers were injured while trying to prevent the three foreign nationals -- two men and a woman -- from taking photos of the Gramsh factory, some 80 kilometers south of the capital, Tirana.

"The officers who were guarding the plant reacted immediately, but during their efforts to stop the three foreign nationals, two of our soldiers were injured" by one of the attackers who used a paralyzing spray, the statement said.

The two soldiers were transported to a Tirana hospital and are receiving medical treatment, the statement said, adding that their lives were not in danger.

A Russian man identified in the statement as M.Z., 24, a Russian woman identified as S.T., 33, and a Ukrainian man identified as F.A,. 25, were arrested on the spot and their vehicle was seized, the ministry said.

Police said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The Gramsh military plant opened in 1962 to produce AK-47, or Kalashnikov, rifles. After the fall of communism in 1990 it stopped production and instead began to dismantle old Kalashnikovs and other small weapons. It also repairs other army weapons.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said late on August 20 that the three individuals were "suspected of espionage."

Albania, a former communist country that has been a NATO member since 2009, has strongly denounced Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and has joined European Union and U.S. sanctions against Moscow.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russians-ukrainian-arrested- alleged-spies-albania/31997786.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.