The first hearing of the two Russian and one Ukrainian citizen charged with espionage following attempts to enter a former weapons factory and an attack on military guards took place in Elbasan, central Albania, on Wednesday (24 August).
Two Russians, Svetlana Timofoeva and Mikhail Zorin and Ukrainian Fyodor Mihailovic, appeared in handcuffs to face the charges against them. Zorin is suspected of string to enter the facility and then using a nerve spray on guards, leaving them temporarily blinded in the attack, which took place on Saturday evening.
The other two suspects were apprehended outside the facility in Gramsh. All three individuals deny espionage charges and claim they are just bloggers interested in military sites that are now abandoned. But this has been called into question considering the use of nerve spray on guards.
During the hearing, another charge was added to the rap sheet: possession of ammunition.
Among the items seized from the trio are one Chevrolet, two drones, a significant amount of cash, one night vision device, a laptop, a sim card, an external hard drive, several cartridges and cartridge shells, ID documents, camping equipment and six mobile phones.
The incident has drawn significant criticism from the opposition, who have accused the government of failing in terms of national security. Prime Minister Edi Rama has vehemently denied such claims and said every institution works as it should, and investigations are ongoing.
Minister of Defence, Niko Peleshi said the incident could have been a diversion to draw attention away from another matter.
Representatives from the Russian and Ukrainian embassies were not present in court. Ukrainian consul Svitlana Bogdanova said he was not allowed to enter the courtroom, but she believes the Ukrainian citizen is innocent.
“I believe our citizen is innocent; he was just a traveller. I am here to see if he has been offered the right conditions for protection”, said Bogdanova.
