Italian authorities on Thursday rejected the asylum requests of 43 asylum-seekers transferred to Albania in a speedy procedure that a non-governmental delegation observing the process said illegally deprived them of legal assistance.

An Italian navy ship carrying migrants picked up in international waters arrived in Albania on Tuesday (January 28), in an attempt by the Italian government to push ahead with a legally contested plan to relocate migrants to the neighboring country.

An Italian navy ship has dropped off 49 migrants in Albania after intercepting them in international waters, in the third attempt to carry out a contentious plan to relocate migrants to be processed under a deal between the two countries.

An Italian military ship docked Tuesday in the Albanian port of Shëngjin with 49 migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Italy, and will be interned in detention and expulsion centers built in Albania by the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni.

An Italian navy ship arrived Tuesday in Albania with 49 migrants who were intercepted in international waters. Their asylum applications are set to be handled by processing centres in Albania. View on