The incident that occurred a few days ago in the city of Durrës, when the detainee Altin Ndoci escaped from the regional hospital of that city, when he was sent "for a medical examination and analysis" by the authorities of the Durrës Prison, where he was kept in isolation after several serious accusations by SPAK, is not an unknown and unprecedented event, not only in these 35 years of pluralism, but also during the entire 45-year period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia. Although it is considered one of the most dictatorial regimes in Eastern Europe, although sporadic, escapes from communist camps and prisons have not been lacking, but they have had serious consequences, as many of the convicts have paid with their lives for that "adventure"!
The first escapes from communist camps and prisons date back to 1945, but with a specific individual and not organized in groups. The first sensational group escape is that of April 1947, when 20 prisoners serving their sentences in the Berat camp were able to cross the barbed wire fence and “take the mountains”! A more or less similar event was repeated in December of that same year, when from the Llakatund camp in the Vlora district, where about 60 political prisoners were serving sentences, nine of them (convicted as “enemies of the people”, from 10 to 20 years of imprisonment), were able to escape from the camp, after having “corrupted” with raki, fried chicken and tobacco, Sergeant Brahim Hoxha from Vlora, who was also a party member.
From that time on, for almost 45 years of the communist regime, escapes have not been few and they have occurred in all camps and prisons of Albania, starting from Tirana, Maliqi (Swamp Drying Camp), Rinas (Airport Construction Camp), Burreli, Spaçi, Repsi, Rubiku, (Copper Smelting Plant Camp), Vlora (Caustic Soda Camp), Laçi (Superphosphate Plant Camp), Elbasan (Cement Factory Camp), Fushë-Kruja (Cement Factory Camp), Ballshi, Zejmeni, Borshi and Shën-Vasia of Saranda, Qafë-Barit, etc., where most of the convicts who attempted to escape from the prison camps, were left in the barbed wire "sawed" by the bullets of the soldiers guarding them. Ironically, one of them was Sazan Hadaeri, (the son of the sister of Shefqet Peçi, one of the emblematic leaders of communist Albania), who was killed by Burrel prison guards on August 2, 1967, after he had passed the prison's perimeter and was hiding somewhere in the vineyards of the agricultural farm!
As mentioned above, almost the majority of these events with attempts and escapes from the camps and prisons of the communist regime are already very well known, both from the testimonies and confessions of their protagonists or archival documents, in this article we are publishing eight stories of escapes, giving only the secret daily operational communiqués of the Ministry of the Interior, in which those events are reported simply as news. Of these events that we have selected for publication in this article, the first belongs to November 1, 1953, when four prisoners serving their sentences in the Rinas camp were able to escape by leaving the toilet drain and crossing the state border into Yugoslavia! The last one dates back to April 1991, when the police forces of the Internal Affairs Branch of the Mirdita district killed the convict Pëllumb Dermani, who had escaped from the Spaç camp, an event that marked the epilogue of that dictatorial regime. For more information about this, etc., please refer to the documents in question, which have been extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and are published for the first time (with the relevant facsimiles) by Memorie.al.
REPORT – INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ON THE ESCAPE OF FOUR POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM THE RINAS CAMP ON OCTOBER 31, 1953, THROUGH THE NEVOJTOREV CHANNEL
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Top Secret
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS No. 127
"Secretariat" Tirana, November 1, 1953
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 190
Escape of political prisoners from Camp No. 4
It is hereby announced that on October 31, 1963, at 03:00, the undersigned prisoners escaped from Camp No. 4.
Shefqet Nexhip Islami, born in 1920 in the village of Kardhiq, Gjirokastra and resident of Fier, arrested on 1.XII.1948, sentenced to 20 years in prison, for being part of a treasonous organization.
Ago Çelo Mitaj, born in 1925 in the village of Bolenë, Vlorë District, arrested on 29.VIII.1950, sentenced to 20 years in prison, for having propagated and wanting to escape to Greece.
Abaz Vesel Korçari, born in 1925 in the village of Vërseshtë, Skrapar district, arrested on 16.VIII.1946, sentenced to life imprisonment (reduced to 20 years), for being part of a group against the Government.
Nexhip Sherif Dauti, born in 1924 in the village of Palevli in the Saranda district, arrested on 20.X.1950, sentenced to 20 years in prison, for being a member of a reactionary group and then collaborating with saboteurs to form a group and committees for the overthrow of the People's Government.
The aforementioned were able to escape through the camp's toilet channel. Police forces went in pursuit of them, following their tracks until they reached the Durrës-Tirana Road. The relevant districts and police forces were notified.
The district directorate will announce this issue in a special report.
CHIEF OF THE SECRETARIAT
Major
Rasim Dedja
Minister of Internal Affairs
Major General Kadri Hazbiut
Major General Mihallaq Ziçishti
Colonel Delo Balilit
In the folder
REPORT – INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ON THE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE 20 POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM THE “AGIMI PALACES” CAMP ON JUNE 24, 1954
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Top Secret
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
"Secretariat" Tirana, June 25, 1954
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 175
TIRANA
Escape attempt by a group of prisoners
It is announced that on June 24, 1954, in the camp no. 4 in Tirana, a group of 20 prisoners, who had prepared a channel of 8 m. length to leave the camp, with the aim of escaping. The above have been severely punished. The main elements were discovered and in agreement with Major General Kadri Hazbiu, their taking into custody began. They will be put on trial for attempted escape and crossing into Yugoslavia
CHIEF OF THE SECRETARIAT
Major
Rasim Dedja
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, ON THE ESCAPE OF THREE POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM BURRELI PRISON, ON AUGUST 2, 1967, WHERE A MAN WAS KILLED BY GUARDS
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
DIRECTORATE OF ADMINISTRATION AND STUDIES Tirana, 3.8.1967
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 179
Burrel
It is reported that on 2.8.1967, at 19:30, while the prison guard officer, Ymer Lena, and the guard Hamit Laçi, were making the usual appeal for control in room No. 7, in which there were a total of 18 people, the convicted for crimes against the state with 25 years each, Adem Isuf Allçi, from Tropoja, Sazan Hajdar Hajdari, from Gjirokastra and Dhori Rafail Deshnica, from Korça, all three under the age of 30, punched the officer and the guard, knocking them unconscious to the ground, took the keys to the interior doors, went out into the fenced yard, riding on the back of one of them, passed through the prison gate, onto the terrace, and jumped from the back of the prison, at a height of 4 m.
The guard dictated and called them to stop, but after they did not obey, he shot and hit, leaving Sazan Hajdari dead, wounded Dhori Dishnica, but he was able to get out of the wire, but from the wounds he received, he had no strength left and was hiding in the vineyard on the farm. While Adem Isuf Allçi fled and from the measures taken, he was caught in Fisha e Tosumit by AGBV Fitim Hoxholli and a policeman from the Branch, who were in pursuit of him. Refail was wounded in the leg and back, he was sent for treatment to the prison infirmary. The guard officer and the guard only suffered blows to the face and are in normal condition.
HEAD OF THE GENERAL BRANCH
GANI GOXHI
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, ON THE ESCAPE OF FOUR POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM BALLSHIT CAMP, ON MAY 12, 1975
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
DIRECTORATE OF ADMINISTRATION AND STUDIES Tirana, 12.5.1975
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 109
fern
On 12.5.1975, at 04.00, in ward 309 Ballsh., the following convicts were taken from the camp: 1) Pëllumb Isuf Kasa, aged 37, born in Lushnje and resident in Tirana, sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment; 2) Bardhyl Haxhi Zaimi, aged 25, born and resident in Kavajë, sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment; 3) Hate Lirim Demo, aged 29, born and resident in the village of Gorisht Vlorë, sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment; 4) Piro Vangjel Mëngjesi, aged 28, born in Fier and resident in Shtyllas, sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Measures have been taken to search for them, inside and outside the district.
directory
PILO SHANTO
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, ON THE ESCAPE FROM THE BORSH CAMP OF SARANDA, OF THE POLITICAL CONVICT HAXHI SHABAN SULA, ON JUNE 11, 1976
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 11.6.1976
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 138
Sarande
On 10.6.1976, at 7.30 am, in the Borsh Re-education Department, the convict, Haxhi Shaban Sula, aged 26, from Tirana, convicted four times, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for unworthy behavior in society and for assaulting a representative of the government, left his workplace and after approaching the guard, soldier Fiqiri Serjiu in a disguised manner, suddenly hit him and knocked him into the canal.
After that, he took the machine gun with all the ammunition and fled in the direction of the Agricultural Enterprise. At this time, the soldier fired a pistol at him, but without consequences. Near the NB, he found a car of that enterprise, driven by the driver Pilo Vrana, which had also detained three or four workers.
The latter, when they saw Haxhiu with a machine gun, fled in fear, while he ordered the driver to start the car and himself got into the carriage. He ordered the driver to walk in the direction of Saranda, otherwise he would kill him. After the command of the unit was informed and they started pursuing him, he fired a machine gun at them, until he reached the village of Nivicë.
There he got out of the car, pointed at the driver, and ordered him to walk in the direction of the village of Bajkaj-Vergoj. When they arrived at Qafë e Breshëri, he clashed with forces from the Internal Affairs Branch, who seriously wounded him and captured him alive.
HEAD
PILO SHANTO
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, ON THE ESCAPE FROM THE SPACI CAMP OF TWO POLITICAL CONVICTS, STAVRI GUXA AND MANOIL QUIRICI, ON DECEMBER 10, 1977
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 10.12.1977
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 290
DOWNLOAD
On 9.12.1977, two convicts escaped from the Spaç camp; Stavri Thoma Guxa, aged 27, born in Derviçan – Gjirokastër, sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment for high treason against the homeland, and Manol Aleks Qirici, aged 35, born in Mbrezhdan – Përmet, sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for agitation and propaganda. The incident occurred at 18.00, when they had left their work shift. The siege was broken between the first and second bodyguards. Measures were taken to capture them.
HEAD
PILO SHANTO
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, ON THE ESCAPE ATTEMPT FROM THE SPACI CAMP OF THE POLITICAL CONVICT, REFIK ZENEL BEQO, ON MAY 12, 1979, WHO WAS KILLED BY A GUARD
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 12.6.1979
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 137
MIRDITA
On 11.6.1979, at 23.15, in Ward 303 Spaç, it was ascertained that the convict with 12 years of imprisonment, Refik Zenel Beqo, from the village of Rrajcë Librazhd, had left his workplace. Measures were taken to arrest him and at 00.50, on 12.6.1979, he was apprehended between guard posts No. 15 and 16, after he had passed the first cordon and was passing the reticulated barrier, towards the second cordon.
After being warned, he was killed by officer Rruzhdi H…. and soldiers Zaim D…. and Gjergj M…. of the upper guard post. Soldiers from guard posts No. 13 and 14 also opened fire. In addition to the operational group of the Branch, the head of the Criminal Offenses Enforcement Branch also went to the site.
HEAD
PILO SHANTO
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, ON THE ESCAPE FROM THE SPACI CAMP OF THE CONVICT, Pëllumb Dermani, WHO WAS KILLED BY POLICE FORCES, ON APRIL 1, 1991
PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Single copy
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 3.4.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 78
MIRDITA
On 1.4.1991, during a search operation by our forces, the prisoner Pëllumb Dermani, who had escaped from prison, was eliminated./ Memorie.al
