Albania raid on Iranian dissidents
# Albania raid on Iranian dissidents

On June 20, 2023, the Albania police lunches an operation at MEK camp in Manez, Durres, on the orders of the Albanian judiciary due to the "violation of agreement and commitments".

## Background

This camp named as Ashraf 3 by MEK, located on 30 km west of Tirana. These Iranian dissidents who known as terrorist group by both Iran and Iraq have several years resident in Ashraf camp 1 and 2 in Iraq under protection of Saddam regime and U.S. troupe in Iraq. Finally, by changing of political situation in Iraq they lost their secure and were experienced some raids in the 2010s that makes sponsors of MEK to find an alternative country to accept being host. US negotiate with some partner in Eastern of Europe. Romania seemed an ideal base, But just, Albania response positively to U.S.

Iran-Albania relation have been tensed since Albania gave MEK members a safe haven a decade ago. In 2022 Albania suffered a cyberattack that the government and multinational technology companies blamed on the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The attack, believed to be in retaliation for MEK camp's, the host of the Iranian opposition in exile, pushed the government to suspend diplomatic relations with Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry denied to being behind an attack on Albanian government websites and noted that Iran has suffered cyber-attacks from the MEK.

### Reactions

U.S.: Despite previous supports of Washington to MEK, this time the Stats department even didn't provide training to them. White House stand behind and said: "We support the Government of Albania's right to investigate any potential illegal activities within its territory."

Some medias and analysts, try to relate this raid to U.S.-Iran negotiation.

### Aftermath

Conflict between police and MEK left one dead and 36 other camp's residents injured, MEK said; rather, the state police said that the police didn't use any deathly means and the victim is not necessarily connected to the police operation.

Muhamet Rrumbullaku commander of the national police confirms both Mujahedeens and police officers were injured during the raid at the Ashraf 3 camp. 15 officers and 21 residents were injured, the police used pepper spray against Mojahedeen who tried to block the officer, and finally police seized 150 computers allegedly linked to prohibited political activities from 17 buildings in the camp, Fox News reported. Mujahedeen-e-Khalq representatives claim 1 person killed in raid.

The situation in the camp on June 21 was calm.

