Memorie.al / After the silent demonstration in Shkodra on January 14, 1990, another silent demonstration took place within the same month, on January 28, 1990 – this time in the capital. It was the first protest against the communist dictatorship, the first sign that Albania could not avoid joining the events unfolding in the Communist East. On January 22, 1990, at the 9th Plenum, while discussing the party’s links with the masses, the selection of cadres, the fight against bureaucracy, the revolutionization of the country’s life, and the “perfection of socialist democracy,” Ramiz Alia declared that in Eastern countries – Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Bulgaria, and Romania – “major changes have occurred,” and they were “expanding ties with the West, especially in economic relations.”
According to him, Western countries were encouraging political changes in Eastern Europe toward free elections and political pluralism, seeking “to destroy everything that might remind one of socialism.” To speak against the demonstration of January 14, 1990, and the events in the communist East, Ramiz Alia chose the “Enver Hoxha” Auto-Tractor Plant in Tirana, many of whose workers would participate in the demonstration just a few days later.
“These campaigns have always failed shamefully. Our Albania, for which generations of patriots have fought and died, has always stood as an invincible fortress. It will remain so for as long as life exists. Let the enemies of Albania bark as much as they want; our caravan moves and will always move forward,” Alia declared. The demonstration took place at 6:00 PM on January 28, 1990, in Skanderbeg Square. The regime undertook preemptive detentions.
For days, there had been rumors in Tirana about the organization of demonstrations. For this reason, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Simon Stefani, approved a plan of measures one day before the demonstration, on January 27, 1990, titled: “Operational-Military Plan of Measures for the prevention and suppression of possible hostile and criminal activity by a group of organized persons in the city of Tirana.”
Report of the General Investigator’s Office
In report No. 199, dated February 14, 1990, from the General Investigator’s Office, it was stated that on January 26, 1990, the State Security (Sigurimi) detained 15 people from Tirana (in fact, 13 are listed, plus one) “for agitation and propaganda against the state.” Those detained (for more than 24 hours) were:
- Ardian Skëndo, 27, paramedic at Hospital No. 2 (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Vasil Dhimitri, 36, worker at the Auto-Tractor Plant
- Faruk Pica, 33, worker
- Zeqir Gollobani, 35, electrician
- Shefki Glina, 33, worker (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Aleksandër Budo, 35, paramedic (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Nikolin Prifti, 35, mechanical engineer (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Romir Papa, 31, unemployed
- Dorian Alla, 28, nurse (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Ilir Duro, 29, mechanic (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Enver Tomani, 38, miner
- Agron Llapi, 35, worker (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Nezir Stërmasi, 53, worker, three-time political prisoner (released on Feb 10, 1991)
- Bujar Gjondedaj (omitted in the first part of the report, released on Feb 10, 1991)
Other names not mentioned in this list include:
- Eno Kapo (detained only on Jan 30, 1991)
- Agim Gora
- Agron Leka Muço, mechanical engineer (released on Feb 10, 1991)
Criminal Proceedings and Sentencing of Three Detainees
Although many people were detained, only a small number were prosecuted, and in the end, only three were sentenced. On January 27, 1990, the Tirana Investigator’s Office, through its head Petrit Serjani and with the approval of prosecutor Sinan Baboçi, decided to extend the investigation until May 19, 1990, for the criminal proceedings against Vasil Dhimitri, Zeqir Gollobani, Faruk Pica, etc., as suspects intended to participate in the silent demonstration to be held in the capital on January 28, 1990. It was noted that the investigation had begun on January 25, 1990.
The indictment against Vasil Dhimitri, Zeqir Gollobani, and Faruk Pica was formulated on May 19, 1990, by investigator Petrit Serjani. Despite the fact that Vasil did not know the other two, they were charged together because the authorities did not have time for separate trials.
The Tirana District Court, by decision No. 285, dated June 21, 1990, declared the defendants guilty based on Article 55/1 (Agitation and Propaganda), sentencing them as follows:
- Vasil Qirjako Dhimitri, born 1954 in Tirana, repair mechanic: 2 years imprisonment.
- Zeqir Isuf Gollbani, born 1955 in Tirana, mechanic, unemployed: 1 year imprisonment.
- Faruk Ymer Pica, born 1958 in Tirana, electrician at the “Dajti” plant: 9 months imprisonment.
This was upheld by decision No. 71, dated July 30, 1990, by the Criminal College of the Supreme Court. / Memorie.al
