Albania refuses to extradite Russian woman held on spying charges

By Talha Ozturk and Fatjon Cuka

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – A court in Albania on Friday decided not to extradite a Russian woman arrested last August on spying charges.

Svetlana Timofeeva, a blogger, was arrested on Aug. 20 along with another Russian and a Ukrainian while trying to enter a military facility in Albania.

She is also facing spying charges back in Russia for “illegally obtaining information constituting a state secret.”

Russian authorities asked for her extradition in January, but the request was turned down by the Elbasan Court of First Instance.

A court statement said Timofeeva did not consent to the extradition and asked to remain in Albania.

In Albania, Timofeeva and the other two suspects are accused of “attacking an officer on duty” and “obtaining confidential information.”