{"id":16535,"date":"2021-06-29T22:03:53","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T20:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=16535"},"modified":"2021-06-29T22:06:02","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T20:06:02","slug":"suspicions-of-russian-espionage-during-natos-military-drills-in-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/suspicions-of-russian-espionage-during-natos-military-drills-in-albania\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspicions of Russian espionage during NATO\u2019s military drills in Albania"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sources close to Euronews Albania have reported that the security task force, part of the US military exercise \u2018Defender 21\u2019 have collected information on a Russian citizen, who entered Albania from the border crossing point of Muriqan, on May 12th <\/sup>carrying a drone.<\/p>\n

Valdislav Cherkasov had declared that his final destination was the city of Durres and this was exactly what raised doubts regarding his arrival to Albania.<\/p>\n

He is one of two Russian citizens entering Albania, since the \u2018Defender 21\u2019 troops have been deployed in our country. In the meantime, the Prosecution of Tirana has started investigations into Cherkasov, on suspicions of espionage.<\/p>\n

Euronews Albania has also learned that 47 year-old Cherkasov, left our country three days his arrival at the city of Durres.<\/p>\n

The troops gathering from 26 countries, under the leadership of the US military were conducting their practice operations at the port of Durres, the air bases of Ku\u00e7ova, Berat, Zall-herr, Bize, Pashaliman and Farka.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Defender 21\u2019 exercise had a protective nature and was focused on the prevention of various forms of aggression, while training our armed forced to respond to all possible crises.<\/p>\n

This year, the focus of \u2018Defender Europe 21\u2019 was to create operational preparedness and mobility, more interactivity in-between NATO states as well as an increased number of allies and partners in the region.<\/p>\n

Albania was one of the 16 countries, where the multi-national military exercise, \u2018Defender 21\u2019 was carried out. Our country was selected amongst the list of countries because of its strategic location as well as the fact that it has been a valuable partner of the U.S. for year now.<\/p>\n

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