Serb woman requests political asylum in Albania

TIRANA, June 12 – A Serb woman asked for political asylum in Albania, claiming she feared for her life after writing articles critical of her government.
Redica Petrovic, 47, went to the Vermica border crossing point in northeastern Albania Monday and was immediately taken into police protection.
Her documents and other materials have been sent to the Interior Ministry, which handles cases of refugees.
According to reports, Albanian police officers were at first surprised by the request, but immediately top police officials proceeded to assist the woman.
“I am a 47 year old woman from Serbia and my identity can be confirmed by the passport,” she told policemen, adding she was afraid for her life after writing a number of articles critical of the government.
“Thinking Albania is a democratic country, I though it would be possible to get shelter here,” she reportedly told police.
The International Organization of Migration built a center for refugees in Kukes during the Kosova war in 1999. The Serb woman was immediately broujght to the center.
Petrobic said she lived in Zajecar, some 100 kilomteres from capital Belgrade.
Petrovic, said she worked in local media, had two sons and was divorced since 1992.
She said she decided to leave her country fearing for her life following publication of a number of articles. She took a bus from Belgrade to Pristina where she had stayed for one day. The she went to Prizren and took a taxi to the border.
Albanian police are working to verify her story.
It is expected Petrovic will be taken to the Tirana refugee shelter where she may continue to file her asylum request.