By Dashnor Kaloçi
The third part
Memorie.al / While the hands of the clock marked 01:30, on October 2, 1986, the calm of that cold autumn night there in the northernmost tip of Albania, in the area of Vermoshi, was broken by several bursts of automatic weapons, which were followed by a pistol, which lit up the whole country on that slope of Mali i Boja, and then, the barking of a dog and the calls and shouts of people…! They were the soldiers of the Bashkim border post who, together with the volunteer forces of that area, (or as they were otherwise known “the riflemen”), who came to reinforce, as well as other forces of the Army units, the Internal Affairs Branch of the Shkodra district and the Border Battalion covering that area, which, since nearly ten days, when an alert situation was given, were in their positions, blocking the border line that was only 400-500 meters away, waiting for captured alive or destroyed, two border violators, who were said to be coming from the depths, with the intention of escaping and going to Guci in Montenegro, (part of Yugoslavia at that time). Just a few seconds after that “Kalashnikov” battery, which was heard in the place called “Stanet e Shurdhi”, the soldier of the border unit who opened fire, together with a member of the volunteer forces, approached in the direction of the silhouette of a man, who was found moaning and covered in blood from the bullets that had pierced his body.
A few minutes later, the soldiers of that border unit and other volunteer forces who rushed to the scene heard the barking of the border dog that his companion had put on the trail to make it possible to capture other offenders. It didn’t take long, when the border dog jumped on a bush, where another person was crouched upside down, and stuck his teeth into his back, ripping and tearing the military jacket he was wearing. After the call; “hands up, don’t move because we’re going to shoot”, the border unit approached him by handcuffing him behind and immediately approached the other group of soldiers and officers, who were standing around the other border violator, who was lying down on the ground, without signs of life, as he had only been able to utter two or three words, telling them that; his name was Sokol Vreshti and he was from the village of Bajzë. Something that was also confirmed by his friend, who was caught alive a few meters away, who told them that; his name was Gjelosh Gega, from the village of Bogë in the highlands of Shkodra, and together with Sokol, they were soldiers in a unit in Vërmik, Vlora.
After that, according to the orders of the chiefs and main cadres of the Internal Affairs Branch of Shkodra, who for a week were leading that search operation from the department of the Border Battalion, Gjelosh Gegë, handcuffed him with his friend, Sokol Vreshti (already dead), and after putting them in the body of a “ZUK” vehicle of the Internal Branch, they started for Shkodër, accompanied by many border forces. For this unusual event, which happened almost 37 years ago, in addition to several meetings of the units of the Border Battalion that covered that area and those of the Internal Affairs Branch of the Shkodra district, where the border guards who had annihilated and captured alive two border violators were congratulated, rewarded (with exceptional permission) and decorated by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly.
Even his friend, Gjelosh Gega, (now 58 years old) who was captured alive by the border and volunteer forces, (who was sentenced to 16 years in prison) cannot give an accurate version of Sokol’s murder for high treason against the country”), since that event happened at 01:30 at night and in the middle of the forest, where he had no chance to see anything! Neither the Vreshti family nor Gjeloshi can give an accurate version, if; Sokol Vreshti, was shot without warning by the border unit, or he was shot and killed, after he was asked to raise his hands, but because he was wounded in one hand, he raised only the other hand and at that moment, the border soldiers shot. Similarly, they still do not have accurate information and do not know the course of the event, therefore; how and when, Sokoli and Gjeloš, made plans and decided to escape from Albania, how they spent the period of nearly ten days, wandering the mountains in the area of Vermoshi, in an attempt to cross the border to Guci, who were the two people that they met by chance in the forest (in Vukël and Lëpushë) and that they immediately alerted the border authorities, to follow them, who were the persons who led that search operation for their capture and above all, who was the man who shot Sokol Vreshti, leaving him dead?!
Regarding these and others, they are made aware of a file from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, (formulary, investigative and judicial file), where everything from that tragic event that happened nearly 37 years ago is explained in detail. , in the area of Vermoshi.
THE TESTIMONY OF THE GUARD OF THE BORDER POST, BASHKIM, NCO VASEL GJEK SMAJLAJ, BEFORE INVESTIGATOR SOKOL PUTO, OF THE SHKODRA INVESTIGATION
Continues from the previous issue
Minutes of the questioning of the witness Vasel Gjek Smajlaj, born in 1960, residence Rrapsh, with the duty of caretaker at the Bashkim border post
Regarding the matter, I explain as follows: Our border post had been on alert for two days for a given situation. The day before yesterday, I was searching on the left side of the border, while yesterday I was on duty in Malin e Boja. Around 21.00, I went to the service on the right side of the mountain slope. Around 11:00 p.m., I was on the side of the mountain, when below me I heard gunshots in my direction. I turned and went out in the direction of the krismas from the other side.
When I approached the lawn with ferns, I met in the service unit with soldier D.M. and a civilian. A little higher was also the post office. I put the dog on the trail and we found a person lying a little above from there I put the dog on the wind and 7-8 meters above, we saw another soldier, lying upside down. The commissioner and I caught him and turned him face up and saw that he was alive. We took it and accompanied it to the post office. On the way, we learned that his name was Gjelosh, and the murdered man, Sokol Vreshti. I have nothing else. I read the process and signed it.
Witness Investigator
Vasel Gjek Smajlaj Sokol Puto
THE TESTIMONY OF N. GJ., COOPERATIVIST FROM VUKEL VILLAGE, GIVEN TO INVESTIGATOR SOKOL PUTO, OF SHKODRA DISTRICT INVESTIGATOR
Minutes of the questioning of the witness, N.Gj., born…, 8th grade, cooperative worker from the village of Vukël.
Regarding the case, I explain as follows: On Friday, at 7:00 am, I had left for work, where that day, together with the brigade, we were going to collect onions. When I approached the source called “Burimi i Radoshi”, I encountered two soldiers in front of me. I greeted them and asked them where they came from and where they were going. They answered me that they were coming from Boga and were going to Lëpushë, to Gjergj Toma. I asked them where they were from and one of them, who was the fattest, told me that he was from Bajza, while the other one, who was thinner and had a white dot in his left eye, told me that he was from Kosani.
I asked them where they were in service and they told me in Boga. I also asked them about their letters and permits and they said they didn’t have any. One of them, the one who told me he was from Kosani, had half a black wheat loaf in his hand. Under these circumstances, I was suspicious of these people. When they asked me where the road to the Bordolec Pass was from, I showed them the road that led right to the pass, to the military ward. After they left, I informed the party secretary, to whom I told the incident. At this time, two soldiers from the Janas border point arrived there, and together with them we chased the two soldiers.
After walking a good bit of road, we saw the two soldiers ahead at a distance of about 1 km. away. One of the soldiers who was with me called them to stop, but they did not stop and then the soldier shot them. At this moment, the two soldiers were on the top of the mountain and without getting behind the top, they disappeared from our sight and we did not see them again. The next day, I heard from my brother’s daughter-in-law, Gj. Gj., that she had met the two soldiers around 9:00, and that they had asked her where the road to Bordolec Pass was from and Gjystja had directed them from the border point of Jana.
But they understood and ran away and hid in the forest. On Thursday at dinner, on 2.10.1986, I was in the Bordolec Pass and there I found out that the offenders had been caught, one killed and the other alive. I have nothing else to say. I read the minutes and signed them.
Witness Investigator
N.Gj. Sokol Puto
THE TESTIMONY OF F. L. FROM VERMOSHI, GUARD IN THE GEOLOGY TEAM, GIVEN TO INVESTIGATOR SOKOL PUTO, OF THE SHKODRA DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
Minutes of the questioning of the witness, F.L., born in 1957, place of residence in Vermosh, with primary education, guard duty in the Geology team at the Water Pits in Vermosh.
Regarding the matter, I can say the following: I am a guard in the geology team at the place called “Gropat e Ujit” in Vermosh. This point is about 1.3 km. away from the state border line. On 1.10.1986, as usual, I went out to take the service at the geological point, about 15 o’clock. Going up to the point, I hear seven rifle shots. We were aware that they are chasing two people who want to escape and I immediately ran towards the geology point to see what was happening. I also had the rifle with me. When I went to the point, I found Luigj Tanez and Martin Kroni there.
They tell me that they saw two soldiers above the geological point, called them to stop and asked them who you are. They had told him that we are two friends and had run away in the direction of the forest on the left side, in the direction of the “Boja Creek”. They told me that they had shot him seven times with a rifle and that their gun had jammed. I then told them that I was in pursuit, at first I fired four shots with my rifle to give the alarm, and set out to occupy the paths. I walked to the place called “Bregu i Shtudica” and took a position there. I stayed there until 24:00, when they fired rockets and machine gun fire.
I realized that the border soldiers had tried to deal with the trespassers and I fled from that place and went and took a position about 150 meters from the border, on the Lipovac Pass. After half an hour I heard a volley of machine guns that fell in Guci, Yugoslavia. Later they shot from the Seferca post office. They also shot our post with a rocket and with automatic volleys. I stayed in that position until morning and then when the light came out, I went down to the geological point. There I found out that one of them had been killed by our soldiers, while the other was captured alive. I don’t know anything else. I read the minutes and signed them.
Witness Investigator
F.L. Sokol Puto
TODAY’S TESTIMONY DEMA, BATTALION COMMISSIONER OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT IN VERMIK OF VLORA, WHERE SOKOL VRESTHI AND GJELOS GEGA WERE SERVING, WAS GIVEN TO INVESTIGATOR SOKOL PUTO, OF THE SHKODRA DISTRICT INVESTIGATOR
Minutes of the questioning of the witness, Sotir Lili Dema, born in 1949, place of residence Vlora, with higher education, with the duty of battalion commissar, in the military ward 8977, Vermik
Regarding the matter, I explain the following. I am the Battalion Commissioner, in the military department, where the soldiers Sokol Vneshti and Gjelosh Gega served. Regarding these two soldiers, I have to say that; that both of these have been soldiers with problems and have brought concerns to the department and to us as a command, we have stopped several times for their attitudes. Recently, we noticed that these two soldiers were together all the time, which was also noticed by the officer.
From the middle of September, we received a telegram from the Military Branch of Shkodra, where it was said that; soldier Sokol Vneshti, date 21.9.1986, was going to marry his sister. As the battalion command, we did not give him permission, but Sokol Vneshti went to Vlora, to the Regimental Command, where they gave him permission, to return on 19.9.1986, late in the evening, he came to our command, a telegram with this text: “Gjelosh Gega’s brother has died. The funeral will take place on 21.9.1986. Fran Gega”. I remember that the telegram was sent from the city of Shkodra.
I notified soldier Gjeloshin and told him to take leave, as he had a very sick brother. For this, the next day, we started him on leave, for about 10 days, and he should come to the department on 21.10.1986. On 24.9.1986, at dinner, soldier Sokol Vneshti did not come from his leave, as his term expired that day, and we informed the Regimental Command in Vlora about this. After that, on 3.10.1986, they informed us that the two soldiers were caught at the border in an attempt to escape abroad, where one of them, Sokol Vneshti, was killed, and Gjelos Gega, was caught alive.
Regarding their hostile intent, we as a command have not ascertained anything. For soldier Sokol Vneshti, we knew that he had a brother who escaped abroad, while for Gjelosh Gega, we knew nothing, if there were people who escaped abroad. I have nothing else to say. After reading the process, I signed it.
Witness Investigator
(Sotir Dema) (Sokol Puto)
THE TESTIMONY OF NDUE LUK VRESHTI, THE FATHER OF THE SOLDIER SOKOL VRESHTI, WHO WAS KILLED BY THE BORDERS OF THE BASHKIM POST OFFICE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FROM VERMOSHI, WAS GIVEN TO THE INVESTIGATOR SOKOL PUTO, OF THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA DISTRICT.
Minutes of the questioning of the witness, Ndue Luk Vreshti, born in 1928, self-taught, place of residence Jaran-Bajzë, cooperative worker.
Regarding the matter, I explain the following: I live in the village of Jaran, together with my family, where I have my wife, who does not work, as she is sick, I have four married daughters, I also have a married son, who his name is Peter, and he is separated from me. Also, I have another son, whose name is Nikoll Vneshti, and who fled to Yugoslavia in 1964, at the age of 16. We correspond with this guy, and I know he lives in California, America. Besides these, I also had another son named Sokol Vneshti, who ran away from the army years ago and served in the army in Vlora.
Regarding the latter, I have to say that; on 20.9.1986, Sokoli, came to my house on leave from the army, since on 21.9.1986, I married a girl, i.e. his sister. He stayed at home until Wednesday and on this day from 10.00, he told us that he was going to the ward and after we greeted him, he left. During all the days that Sokoli was on leave, he stayed at home, without going anywhere except to Bajze. I don’t know that, during the time that Sokol stayed at home, anyone came and looked for him.
The day he left, he told us that; he was about to leave for the department and he didn’t tell us anything else. On October 2, 1986, I found out that my son Sokoli was killed at the border, trying to escape abroad. That’s why I’m surprised that he hasn’t given us any sign, and in that direction, he never was. None of our family knew anything about his actions. I add that; my son, who has escaped, has a son named Rudi, who also wrote a letter to us.
Question: Do you know anyone in the Kelmendi area?!
Answer: I do not know anyone in the area of Kelmendi, and I have never been in that area. I have nothing else to say. After reading the process, I signed it.
Witness Investigator
(Ndue Vreshti) (Sokol Puto)
THE DOCUMENT WITH THE CLAIM OF THE MILITARY PROSECUTOR OF THE CRIMINAL COLLEGE OF SHKODRA DISTRICT, MYRVET SHEHU, AGAINST THE DEFENDANT GJELOSH GEGA
P R E T E N C E
Fellow Chairman, Fellow Judges.
Today, the defendant Gjelosh Gega, who is accused of serious crimes, treason against the country in the form of fleeing abroad in cooperation, remaining in the attempt, as well as permanently avoiding mandatory military service, these offenses set forth by the articles, gave an account 47/gj+13+11 and 139+13 of the Criminal Code.
The criminal offenses committed by the defendant, especially that of treason, present significant social danger. We judge this defendant, at a time when the work of the 9th Congress of the ALP is taking place, where all the employees of our country, including the soldiers of the armed forces, are mobilized as never before to implement the decisions of this congress. Wanting to escape abroad, the defendant violated the military oath, laws, and military regulations.
You, the defendant, would flee the country, but as the Party has made clear to us, in the countries around us, and throughout the world, there are millions of unemployed, and millions more who have nothing to eat. . There are thousands of people who leave their huts and houses in the morning, and are not sure if they will return in the evening, and this is not the case with us. The actions of the defendant, which are strictly punishable both morally and criminally, have nothing in common with the soldiers of our armed forces, whose ranks are pure as amber, because the Party directs them with special care .
The defendant is declassified, so his body is in Albania, but his mind and heart are in Yugoslavia and elsewhere. However, we have the duty from this judicial tribune to make it clear to anyone else, who in the embryo, may have such manifestations, that the defendant is already clear that the border is a fence, and whoever dares to attempt to escape will receive the same reward as the defendant, if not the bullet to the forehead. The Party and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat has always hit them with an iron fist, and thrown them into the trash can, all the traitors of the country, of any nature.
All alert and fist ready, we will stand at any moment. Where is the content of the criminal activity of this defendant?! What is the content of the forms used by him to carry out the criminal activity?! These questions were best answered by a large number of facts, a sufficient amount of evidence, including the defendant’s own depositions. From the investigation and trial, the following results: The defendant Gjelosh Gega, having hostile predispositions, since his uncle, named Nik Gega, escaped there, tried to escape himself. Thus, this defendant, being a soldier at military department no. 3205 in Vlorë, talked several times with soldier Sokol Vneshti, to escape, and they agreed on this.
On 19.9.1986, soldier Sokol Vneshti went to the family, and that same day he sent an urgent telegram to the defendant Gjelosh Gega, as if his brother had died. Under these circumstances, the defendant Gjelosh Gega was given permission by the ward command to go to his family. When the defendant went home, he also met Sokol Vneshti and after some conversations, they decided to meet on Wednesday afternoon. These days, on 24.9.1986, the defendant Gjelosh Gega met with Sokol Vneshti in Koplik and after buying bread, they set off in the direction of Boga, with the aim of going to the area of Kelmendi, without passing through the checkpoints border.
After sleeping outside for two nights, the defendant, together with Sokol Vneshti, on Friday morning, were in the village of Vukël in Kelmend, where they met the witness, N. Gj., whom they asked about the direction of the Pass Bordolec, that is, the direction of the state border. This witness, suspecting their behavior and dreams, showed them the way, but at the same time he notified the relevant authorities and started following them himself. Both soldiers, when they realized they were being followed, ran away and hid in the forest. In this way, for several days, the defendant Gjelosh Gega, together with soldier Sokol Vneshti, avoided the search, hiding in the forest, and determined on their criminal goal, they continued to search for the road towards the border, to realize the purpose of their escape abroad.
On 1.10.1986, the two offenders were climbing Mount Boja and in the vicinity of the place called “Gropa e Ujit”, they encountered the guards of the geological point, who shot them, giving an alarm . Among them was the witness F.L. The defendant Gjelosh Gega, together with Sokol Vneshti, ran away in the darkness of the night, entering the forest. From there they, seeing the lights of the city of Gucia, headed in that direction. But, going down the side of the mountain, at a distance of 500 meters, far from the border line, in the place called “Stanet e Shurdhi”, there they encountered the border unit, with the witness D.M. The latter contacted the offenders who approached him, and asked them to stop, shooting a gun in the air.
At this moment, the defendant together with Sokol Vneshti tried to leave in the forest, but the witness Myfit opened fire in their direction. From the first shots, soldier Sokol Vneshti was killed, while the defendant, not having the opportunity to leave, lay down until he was caught alive by the witnesses; Rifat Çokaj, D.M., and Vesel Smajlaj, who accompanied him to the border post. In these circumstances, the defendant Gjelosh Gega, wanting to escape abroad to Yugoslavia, simultaneously consumed the element of the criminal offense, of permanently avoiding mandatory military service, and for this reason, he must answer to the criminal offense as well. , set forth by Article 139 of the Criminal Code.
Questioned by the investigator, the defendant Gjelosh Gega, accepts the charge against him and gives explanations about it, both in the investigator and today in court. This charge is also proven by the statements of other witnesses such as Rifat Çokaj, D.M., Vesel Smajlaj, N. Gj., etc., as well as all other evidence administered in the investigation file. What are the reasons that this defendant degenerated and turned to crime?! We must look for the causes in these main directions: In the fact that the defendant has a bad political composition, as he has an uncle who escaped abroad. This unhealthy family environment of the defendant has greatly influenced him to commit these crimes. In the same way, this defendant was influenced by the constant imperialist-revisionist pressure, which takes place in the minds and hearts of unformed people, prone to criminal actions, like the defendant.
From this trial, all the participants should draw conclusions, since as the Party orders us, the enemies, whether external or internal, do not sleep, but work in different forms to harm us. Therefore, as Comrade Enver has taught us, all of us at every moment, to be awake, alert, very compact, much disciplined, and with fists ready. I think that under such conditions, it would be superfluous to bring such arguments and facts, since I find the defendant’s guilt fully proven. In my request, for the amount of punishment against this defendant, I take into account the following circumstances: The marked dangerousness of the criminal offenses committed by the defendant, especially that of treason against the country, in the form of an attempted escape, the nearness of the arrival of the consequences for the attempt to escape, since for nearly 500 meters, he crossed the state border.
The highlighted danger of the defendant himself is the fact that he has a bad political background. For the above, as well as based on the socialist legal conviction, I request: The defendant Gjelosh Gega be declared guilty, in accordance with Article 150 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for both charges and be punished as follows:
1 – For treason against the motherland in the form of fleeing abroad, in collaboration with the attempt, he has been permanently avoided military service, these crimes, provided by article 47/gj+13+11 of the Criminal Code and be punished with 14 years’ imprisonment.
2 – For avoiding the ward, provided by article 139/1-13 of the Criminal Code and to be punished with 2 years of imprisonment.
Finally, by combining the sentences, in accordance with Article 35 of the Criminal Code, he is sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. Memorie.al
Shkoder 6.11.1986
Military Prosecutor
(Myrvet Shehu)
The next issue follows
