Albanian declared non grata and expelled a Russian diplomat for repeated violations of the anti-Covid measures imposed by the Albanian government. Alexey Krivosheev was ordered to leave the country within 72 hours.

The Albanian Foreign Ministry’s note said Krivosheev has continuously breached anti-Covid measures and became a danger to public healthcare.

“The Albanian government wishes the strengthening of the friendly relationship with the Russian Federation and shows its regret that the good will of both parties was affected by repeated individual acts of the Russian Corps Diplomatique in Tirana in disrespecting the measures taken by the Albanian authorities for the protection of the population from COVID-19. Since April 2020, but also earlier this year, the Albanian government has been receiving numerous complaints and condemnations over pervasive violations of the COVID-19 measures on the side of a diplomat working at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tirana

The government’s decision was conveyed to the Russian Ambassador in Albania, Mihail Afanasiev, from top Foreign Affairs Ministry officials’.

The Ambassador showed “willingness to cooperate” and vowed that similar occurrences by diplomatic personnel will not happen in the future.