Russian ambassador in Tirana, Alexander Karpushin, has officially called on the Albanian state for protection while informing the authorities that he feels threatened.
Diplomatic sources have informed “Vizion Plus” channel that Karpushin announced two weeks ago that he feels endangered by a group of Islamic extremists from Kosovo and Macedonia.
The same sources said that this group, according to the diplomat Karpushin, is located in an apartment near the Russian Embassy in Tirana and has been observing for some time every move of the ambassador as well as the staff of the diplomatic missions.
He has emphasized that ISIS extremists are able to act everywhere and in every circumstance. Consequently, Karpush has also informed embassy staff to avoid the participation in massive activities as much as they can.
Ever since the Russian ambassador in Ankara was shot dead by an Islamist extremist and when St. Petersburg was recently hit by terrorist acts, the ambassador’s concern for the security of Russian embassies is increased, including Russian Embassy in Albania.
Diplomatic sources highlighted that the Russian Embassy did not provide any concrete facts about the group claimed to threaten Ambassador Karpush but has required from Moscow to bring in Tirana a group of intelligence experts to handle this type of threats.
“Vizion Plus” asked the Russian Embassy, but it received no comment. According to the embassy, the person who deals with the press, has not been working for several days, while giving no affirmative or dissuasive answers regarding the matter.
The embassy’s request to bring Russian intelligence experts from Moscow comes when Albania is in the eve of June 18th parliamentary elections.
