“In Albania, two Russians and a Ukrainian were detained while trying to break into a military factory near the town of Gramsh. One of the Russians resisted and wounded two soldiers guarding the plant. All of the detainees are suspected of espionage” (Nexta, 21.08.2022).
“The Albanian Ministry of Defence announced the arrest of two Russians and a Ukrainian, while trying to enter an arms factory. “Three citizens with Russian and Ukrainian passports tried to enter the plant. When trying to stop three foreign citizens, two of our soldiers were injured, ”the department noted. The Russian Embassy in Albania stated that it has not yet received information from the authorities of the republic about the detention of the Russians” (David Kime, 21.08.2022).
The suspects of espionage came to Albania, as tourists, claimed to be journalists, photographers and bloggers. They clearly had a mission of sorts, because who visits a military factory or arms production, unannounced?
Who carries chemicals on them that is life-endangering to the ones that inhales or gets it on their skin? Like the two soldiers who is wounded and in the hospital. Any ordinary tourists carries soft-drinks, snacks and possibly some souvenirs. However, most tourists isn’t carrying or having in case dangerous chemicals in their back-packs. That’s just a given…
This is why this story is of a spy-novel. It isn’t a tale of tourists or of tourism. This didn’t happen on the Albanian Riviera, walking around in the BulkArt or taking photos of the town of Gjirokastër. That’s what tourists would do. If not enjoy the other tourist sites in Tirana or elsewhere in the Albanian republic for that matter.
They are now claimed to connected to the FSB and the spy agency of the Russian federation. This seems likely. Since, it is a plot taken out of a spy-movie. The ones in the plot used the means of tourist visa and tried to access a military base/arms factory. That is really telling what the Russians are willing to do.
If this isn’t suspicious activity nothing is. We know certain parts of the internet is downplaying it. However, this sounds fishy and is questionable at best. Because, as a seldom tourist myself. I would visit historical sites, recommended by Lonely Planet or whatnot. I wouldn’t try to illegally enter or be anywhere near a military base/arms factory. I got nothing to do there and it wouldn’t be my place to be at. That’s why the story of just taking photographs or passing by doesn’t make sense.
This was a planned attempt of entry and because it failed. The soldiers who stopped them got the consequences of doing so. They got hurt and is suffering for whatever type of chemical the spies had on them. It just not common to carry or to even have it. That just shows what sort of mission they were a part of certainly they had tasks to fulfil in Albania.
If not… they wouldn’t have risked this mission and tried to access it. Because, the FSB and the Russians wants to know what is going on there. Peace.