Russian blogger Svetlana Timofeeva, known online as Lana Sator, has reportedly sought asylum in Albania, according to a post shared on Instagram, a platform whose parent company Meta is banned in Russia as an extremist organization.
The post indicates that Timofeeva signed an official petition on March 10. It also states that she does not seek forgiveness but wishes to be judged in Albania, with an emphasis on lawful process and respect for human rights.
Associates and location linked to Timofeeva
Timofeeva, described in accompanying images as being involved with photographs of deserted industrial sites, is said to have been in the company of Ukrainian national Fadir Mikhailov and Russian national Mikhail Zorin at a deserted military facility near Gramsci, Albania, during the previous summer. Reports claim that she was subsequently detained on charges connected to disseminating classified military information.
Legal actions and prior convictions
In 2022, Lana Sator was reported to have been sentenced in abstentia by a Russian court in relation to allegations of illegally obtaining information concerning state secrets.
Reason for leaving Russia
Timofeeva is said to have left Russia after the onset of the broader regional conflict in Ukraine, commonly referred to in public discourse as the ongoing military operation in Ukraine.