🇦🇱 Europe
Does Albania extradite to Russia?
No extradition treaty with Russia, and membership of NATO and the Council of Europe: a low extradition-risk destination.
In short
RarelyRarely. There is no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia, the country belongs to NATO and the Council of Europe, the ECHR applies, and extradition cases receive full judicial review.
Author
INTERPOL PROTECTION Research Desk
Reviewed by
Legal Review Board
Overview
Albania rarely appears on relocation lists, although from a wanted-alert perspective the risk here is among the lowest in Europe.
No bilateral extradition treaty exists between Russia and Albania. The country belongs to NATO and the Council of Europe, the ECHR applies, and extradition cases are heard by a court with a right of appeal and a final decision by the justice minister.
A Red Notice nonetheless keeps working: border-crossing and banking difficulties are possible. The absence of any prospect of surrender does not cancel the notice — it is deleted only through the CCF.
The visa regime deserves a separate note: Albania's rules for Russian citizens have changed almost annually and in some periods opened only for the summer season. Entry conditions must be checked at the time of travel on the official e-visa.al portal, not from last year's write-ups.
Legal system
Civil law; the courts examine extradition and the justice minister takes the final decision.
Extradition practice
There is no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia; surrender undergoes ECHR-based judicial review. Own nationals are not extradited.
INTERPOL cooperation
An INTERPOL member; a notice affects border crossing and banking above all.
Human rights & judicial review
A Council of Europe and NATO member: the ECHR applies, Articles 3 and 6 work and ECtHR interim measures are available.
Draft evasion and mobilisation
Surrender for draft or mobilisation evasion is excluded twice over: the conduct is a military offence, and no bilateral extradition treaty with Russia exists in the first place. On extradition risk, Albania is among the calmest destinations in Europe.
Not sure whether Albania could extradite you? Describe your situation — we will assess the extradition risk and outline the next steps. Confidential, via secure channels.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Albania extradite to Russia?
Not in practice. No bilateral extradition treaty exists, and extradition cases undergo ECHR-standard judicial review.
Do Russian citizens need a visa?
Albania's visa rules for Russians have changed almost annually, and in some periods visa-free entry opened only for the summer season. Conditions must be checked at the time of travel on the official e-visa.al portal.
Not sure whether you are wanted?
This page answers in general terms; your case it does not. Describe your situation — we will look at what Albania actually means for you, whether a Red Notice exists and what to do next. Confidential, no obligation.
What can be done
Check in advance, before travelling
A CCF request and a legal analysis let you find out preventively whether data exists and what the risks are — rather than at the border.
- Challenge it and seek deletion
We prepare a reasoned request to the CCF to delete a Red Notice: where data has been processed in breach of INTERPOL's rules — in a politically motivated case, for example — the Commission deletes it.
- Come back after a refusal
A refusal does not close the procedure for good: a request can be re-filed on new facts — a refused extradition, refugee status, evidence of political motive.
The outcome cannot be guaranteed in advance, but the situation is not a dead end either.
All enquiries are handled confidentially.
Related procedures
Sources
- European Convention on Extradition (ETS No. 24) — Council of Europe
- Interpol Constitution and legal framework — Interpol
- List of international treaties of the Russian Federation on legal assistance, extradition and transfer of sentenced persons — Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation
Version history
- v1.0 — Initial publication.
- v1.1 — Country overview update and legal review.