Russian Influence: Is Albania the Odd One Out?

Diplomatic relations at embassy level between the Republic of Albania (then People’s Republic of Albania) and the Russian Federation (then Union of Socialist Soviet —USSR) were established for the first time in 1956, a year after Albania became a founding member of the Warsaw Treaty Organization. Settled times between the two countries lasted only 5 years, as in 1961 their diplomatic relations came to an end, albeit Albania maintained support for the Warsaw Pact, not formally withdrawing until 1968. Three decades later, in 1991, diplomatic relations between the two countries were reinstated, when pluralist Albania recognised the Russian Federation as rightful heir to the USSR. In broad terms, relations between the two countries have been kept at a basic level, with no exchange of top-level delegations between the two countries for a considerable number of years. Moreover, Albania has not ratified the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Russia.