Dashnor Kaloçi
The third part
Memorie.al publishes the unknown story of Aleksandër Kondos, the Albanian weightlifting legend who lost his life at the age of 27 in tragic and still completely unexplained circumstances, during a car accident in Quens New York, USA, where he was placed as a political immigrant after fleeing Albania in May 1985, staying in Yugoslavia at the time, after the national team returned from the European Weightlifting Championships held in Poland in those days. The complete voluminous file of the former State Security in charge of Aleksandër Kondos, declassified by the Authority for Information of the files of the former State Security, containing hundreds of pages belonging to the period from 1981 when the operational pursuit and surveillance of regularly against him by the secret services of the communist regime, until 1987, when that file was finally archived, after his tragic death.
In Tirana in the early ’80s, not only for many sports fans but also among the young people of the Albanian capital, a young man at the age of 20 stood out and stood out, both for his portrait and physique, as well as for his appearance, in fashionable clothes and with a sports bag around his neck, and on the other shoulder a large radio-tape recorder, which he brought from abroad, when he went out with the national weightlifting team in international activity. . He was Aleksandër Kondo, a member of the “Dinamo” weightlifting team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (where at that time he served as a senior soldier in the Republic Guard, also his father), and also of the national team, which at that time , thanks to the differentiated assessment and treatment of the communist regime in power in some serious sports, had achieved high results in the international arena.
The name of Aleksandër Kondo as a sportsman began to become more and more famous, especially after his high results achieved in 1984, at the Sports Palace “Partizani” in the capital, when he fixed the figures of 200 kg. (in the style of pushing) electrifying thousands of sports fans, (that day more spectators were outside the sports palace than inside it), who under numerous applause, did not leave the square in front of the palace, without seeing that guy up close, who had amazed them with his results and performance. Since then, Sander Kondo, almost became a myth in Tirana and Albania of that time, as his results came to rise, not only in national championships, but also in the international arena where he consistently had high results. .
But much more than this period of time when Sander Kondo, was at the peak of his career, his name became even more famous and began to be discussed throughout the country, at the end of May 1985, when during an international event in the framework of the European Weightlifting Championship that took place in Warsaw, Poland, (where he lifted 210 kg.), Kondo did not return to Albania, but together with his teammate, Xhelal Sukniqi from Shkodra, from Montenegro went to Belgrade, waiting to gain political asylum in the US.
The event of the escape of two Albanian athletes caused a great commotion not only because of the name and great fame that Aleksandër Kondo had at that time, but also because that event became the object of “quarrel” between Albania and Yugoslavia, as Tirana was official at the time. publicly accused (in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit”), the Yugoslav authorities, saying that the two Albanian athletes had been abducted by the Yugoslav secret services (UDB) and demanded their return home.
But that claim of official Tirana had nothing real, as Kondo and Sukniqi denied it in the meeting that took place in Belgrade, between the representatives of the Albanian embassy and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the Yugoslav side, where Sander Kondo, after cursing the communist regime of Enver Hoxha again and again, tried to hit the Albanian diplomat with an ashtray, insisting that he should return to Albania, where his family and the whole society were waiting for him.
After that, Sander Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi gained political asylum in the USA, where Sukniqi is still, while Kondo lost his life in a car accident on May 1, 1987, (always according to the official version of the communist regime of that time). ), and his remains were returned to Albania in 2003.
All these have already been known for years, as much has been written about Aleksandër Kondo as the legend of Albanian weightlifting and his father, Vangjel Kondo, has given several interviews in both print and visual media, and even made some television documentaries, for all his life and history, until the day he parted from this life. But again, the “Alexander Kondo case” has not yet been fully clarified, especially the part related to his tragic death which continues to remain shrouded in mystery, as well as the surveillance of him by the Security of The Albanian State and its segments since 1981, which was made public for the first time by the Authority for Information of the Former State Security Files, headed by Mrs. Gentjana Mara Sula, who in 2018, handed over the file to the Kondo family, or more precisely to his father, Vangjel Kondo.
In that file that Mr. Vangjel Kondo has trusted him exclusively for the publication of Memorie.al, it is shed light and it becomes known, the evaluation, treatment and all the surveillance and persecution, which was done at that time by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, one of the most voice of Albania, such as Aleksandër Kondo, who was well known in the international arena. Based on this fact, Memorie.al will publish the complete file in question (with the relevant facsimiles), in several numbers.
Continued from the previous issue
The secret document in the State Security file with the list of collaborators who followed and monitored Alexander Kondon and the list of family members who could be followed for his control
Secret
Checklist on the file
Please check and let us know if the person listed below is listed in the operational records
Surname – Kondo
Name – Alexander
Fatherhood – Gospel
Date of birth – 1960
Homeland – Fier
Residence – L. 1, Rr. Haxhi Sufa, P. 2,
Plant – electromechanical,
Profession – Worker,
Nationality – Albanian, Citizenship – Albanian
Operational Workshop
O. F.
Tirana on 10.5.1984
We inform you that the person requested by you has P. op.
O.F.
Dated 11.5.1984
List of B.p. who have had it and have it in relation
“Students”
“The penitent”
“Dynamo”
“Eagle”
List of p.op. running B.P. or get acquainted with the materials of the file.
F.Z.
List of friendly and socially friendly family ties of operational interest
Vangjel Nisi Kondo, the father, was expelled from the Party and has been released as an officer.
Antigone Gjergj Kondo, mother.
Dhimitraq Vangjel Kondo, brother, disorderly man.
Roland Vangjel Kondo, brother, correct man.
Florika Vangjel Kondo, sister, good.
Lindita Vangjel Kondo, sister, good.
Valentina Vangjel Kondo, sister.
List of persons implicated in the activity of the facility
Xhelal Sukniqi, fugitive
Testimonies of the State Security agent with the nickname “Eagle”, for the conversations of Aleksandër Kondo against the communist regime
Given by agent “Eagle”
Received from P. OP. N.GJ. and G.B.
Tirana on 1.6.1985
R a p o r t
B.p. informs that in recent days he has met again with ……………………. He talked about the departure of two Albanian weightlifters from the national team in Titograd, Yugoslavia. According to ………………… ..the two weightlifters escaped, that is, they left on their own. B.p. from ………………… .has learned that the weightlifter from Shkodra ………………… ..has had a close friendship with ………………………… ..resident in Tirana who has been a cyclist with ” Partizanin “and who has left the sport.
He is a red-haired boy. According to ……………… .before the departure of the team to Poland L. ka gave ……………………… ..a $ 1000 banknote, to buy any clothes in order to break the banknote. As such, there was no way he could return the difference L. Tani ka. Is very afraid that the two weightlifters will not return him, or that the work of dollars will not come out and they call him and take some action against him.
It also deals with foreign exchange sales. B.p. has seen the gold as well as knows that A. sells outerwear only in dollars. A. often says: “Well, will the First Secretary of the Party do anything or not, will he increase the salaries or not” ?!
“Eagle”
Rating: The data is of interest as it turns out that the two weightlifters took dollars out illegally.
Task: In this regard it was not given.
Operational measures: To print the data in 4 copies, for Aleksandër Kondon, for Xhelal Sukniqi, for A.B. and for L.K. and you pass MES Branch
Correspondence of the State Security Directorate with the General Investigation, for Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Fund: STATE DIRECTORATE
Sector: BRANCH I
Model 7
Year 1985
File no. 85
File title: CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MIA AND GENERAL INVESTIGATION ABOUT ALEXANDER KONDON AND XHELAL SUKNIQI WHO REFUSED TO RETURN TO THE HOMELAND.
Started on 6.6.1985
It ended on June 4, 1985
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
FIRST DIRECTORY
Nr. 4227
Secret
Examples Nr. 2
Tirana on 6.6.1985
Subject: For Aleksandër Kondon and Xhelal Sukniqi
GENERAL INVESTIGATION
TIRANA
Below we provide some biographical data, for those mentioned in the course:
- Aleksandër Kondo, son of Vangjeli, born in Fier in 1960 and living in Tirana, unconvicted, disorganized in the party, engaged to Albanian nationality and citizenship, working as a police officer in the Directorate of Internal Affairs in Tirana. The above comes from a family with a good moral-political past. His father is an officer in the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Assembly. Such are the uncle and the sister’s husband. There are no convicts, fugitives abroad and interned from his family and friends. Based on Alexander Kondon, positive opinion has been given several times, and he has been allowed to go abroad 8 times, with the national weightlifting team.
- Xhelal Sukniqi, son of Nuh, born in 1961, born in Shkodra and living there, with unfinished secondary education, worker, unconvicted, disorganized in the party, with Albanian nationality and citizenship, working in the Teli Plant at Shkoder. Xhelal Sukniqi comes from a family with a good moral and political past. The two brothers, sisters, two brothers-in-law, and some first cousins, are members of the ALP. From his family and friends, there are no, fugitives abroad, shot, convicted, or interned, except for his uncle Nuh Lika, who has been convicted of agitation and propaganda, and who died in 1983. Based on the above, for Xhelal Sukniqi, 5 times a positive opinion was given to go abroad, by the Shkodra GDP, and the Army Security Branch.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Zylyftar Ramizi
State Security Report to the General Investigation on trips made abroad, Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, for international sports activities
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
FIRST DIRECTORY
Nr. 4227
Secret
Examples Nr. 2
Tirana on 6.6.1985
Subject: For Aleksandër Kondon and Xhelal Sukniqi
GENERAL INVESTIGATION
TIRANA
The mentioned in the case, have gone abroad as follows:
Alexander Kondo
Romania, from 18.11.1981 to 25.11.1981
Yugoslavia, from 13.9.1982 to 29.9.1982
Turkey, from 20.10.1982 to 27.10.1982
Turkey, from 21.4.1983 to 29.4.1983
Algeria, from 11.5.1983 to 18.5.1983
Greece, from 16.11.1983 to 21.11.1983
Spain, from 25.4.1984 to 2.5.1984
Poland, from 17.5.1985 to 28.5.1985
Xhelal Sukniqi
Yugoslavia, from 13.9.1982 to 29.9.1982
Turkey, from 20.10.1982 to 27.10.1982
Poland, from 17.5.1985 to 28.5.1985
State Security report on the causes of Alexander Kondo’s escape
SECRET
Single copy
Tirana on 20.7.1985
RELATIONSHIP ON THE CAUSES OF ALEXANDER KONDOS ‘ESCAPE
Aleksandër Kondo, has been out with the weightlifting team several times. Before fleeing, he was in Spain and there, he did not stay well. And this comes out, even from the report that P.op. has made about this. D.L. who has accompanied the team to Spain.
On our part, recognizing not only the moral-political attitude of his family, but also his attitude as a person, a negative opinion was given about his participation in the European Weightlifting
Championship that took place in May 1985. This opinion is based on some materials and data that we had in charge of him.
Because he used various stimulants during the races, and when he was in Spain, he brought with him a pornographic magazine, was associated with unformed elements, and was a disorderly and unprincipled man. After the championship in Poland, our team arrived in Titograd, where they would wait for our bus to pick them up.
At that time all the friends, disperse. Likewise, Aleksandar leaves together with his friend Xhelal Sukniqi, and did not return to his friends. How they left, nothing is known but it is known that they sought political asylum. Both are currently in Yugoslavia. /Memorie.al
OPERATIONAL WORKSHOP CHIEF OF FIRST SECTION
F.Z N.S.
Continues in the next issue
