A letter written on December 9, 1948 in Tirana sheds light on a small human drama in the early years of the communist regime in Albania. Its author is Vangjelia Luarasi, who addresses the prime minister of the time, Enver Hoxha, to ask for intervention in favor of her brother-in-law, Gaqo Turtulli, imprisoned in Korça.
The letter is a clear and heartfelt plea for mercy. From the very first lines, Luaras addresses Hoxha with the words:
"Mr. Prime Minister,
Please forgive me for taking the courage to address this letter to you..."
She explains that the Korça authorities have imprisoned her brother-in-law, while leaving his family in very difficult conditions, as he was unable to pay a supplementary tax of 800 thousand lek that was imposed on him at the end of the year.
According to her, Turtulli was unable to pay this amount because he had not traded in recent months, following the huge losses he had suffered during the currency devaluation in 1945 and the confiscations that followed.
In the following letter, Luarasi tries to convince the prime minister that the case should be reviewed. She asks the Korça authorities to look at the situation fairly, emphasizing that it is not fair for a merchant to be forced to pay taxes for an activity he did not exercise.
In another part of the letter, she also expresses concern for her brother-in-law's family, which she says has been left in precarious economic conditions after his arrest.
The letter closes with a humble and respectful tone:
"Please be kind enough to consider the above facts and support if possible.
Please accept our most sincere regards."
This document is a rare testament to the way ordinary citizens, in the early years of the communist regime, directly addressed the state leadership to seek justice or mercy.
Behind the humble tones and official formulas of the time, this letter clearly conveys the anxiety of a family trying to save a relative from prison and protect its dignity in a harsh period for the economic and social life of the country.
