By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / The event that took place a few days ago in the city of Durrës – when the detainee Altin Ndoci escaped from the regional hospital after being sent for “a check-up and medical tests” by the authorities of Durrës Prison – is not an unknown or unprecedented event. This is true not only for these 35 years of pluralism but also throughout the 45-year period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia. Although considered one of the most dictatorial regimes in Eastern Europe, escapes from communist camps and prisons, though sporadic, were present. However, they carried severe consequences, as many convicts paid for that “adventure” with their lives!
The first escapes from communist camps and prisons originated as early as 1945, though involving specific individuals rather than organized groups. The first sensational group escape occurred in April 1947, when 20 prisoners serving their sentences at the Berat camp managed to cross the barbed-wire perimeter and “take to the mountains.” A similar event repeated in December of that year at the Llakatund camp in the Vlora district. There, out of approximately 60 political prisoners, nine (convicted as “enemies of the people” with sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years) managed to escape after “corrupting” Sergeant Brahim Hoxha from Vlora – who was also a Party member – with raki, fried chicken, and tobacco.
From that time onward, for nearly 45 years of the communist regime, escapes were not uncommon across all camps and prisons in Albania, including Tirana, Maliq (Swamp Drainage Camp), Rinas (Airport Construction Camp), Burrel, Spaç, Reps, Rubik (Copper Smelting Plant Camp), Vlora (Caustic Soda Camp), Laç (Superphosphate Plant Camp), Elbasan (Cement Factory Camp), Fushë-Kruja (Cement Factory Camp), Ballsh, Zejmen, Borsh, Shën-Vasi in Saranda, Qafë-Bari, etc. The majority of convicts who attempted to escape remained caught in the barbed wire, “sawn” by the bullets of the guarding soldiers. Ironically, one of them was Sazan Hadëri (the nephew of Shefqet Peçi, one of the emblematic leaders of communist Albania), who was killed by Burrel prison guards on August 2, 1967, after crossing the perimeter and hiding in the vineyards of the agricultural farm.
While most of these events are now well-known through testimonies and archival documents, this article publishes eight escape stories using only the secret daily operative communiqués of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where these events were reported simply as news. Among the selected events, the first dates to November 1, 1953, when four prisoners at the Rinas camp escaped through a latrine canal and crossed the state border into Yugoslavia. The last belongs to April 1991, when police forces of the Internal Affairs Branch of Mirdita killed the convict Pëllumb Dermani, who had escaped from the Spaç camp – an event that marked the epilogue of that dictatorial regime. These documents, extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are published for the first time by Memorie.al.
REPORT – INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS REGARDING THE ESCAPE OF FOUR POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM THE RINAS CAMP, OCTOBER 31, 1953, VIA THE LATRINE CANAL
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Top Secret
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS No. 127
“Secretariat” Tirana, November 1, 1953
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 190
Escape of political prisoners from Camp No. 4
Informs that on October 31, 1953, at 03:00, the following prisoners escaped from Camp No. 4:
- Shefqet Nexhip Islami, born in 1920 in the village of Kardhiq, Gjirokastra, residing in Fier, arrested on Dec 1, 1948, sentenced to 20 years of deprivation of liberty for participating in a treasonous organization.
- Ago Çelo Mitaj, born in 1925 in the village of Bolenë, Vlora District, arrested on Aug 29, 1950, sentenced to 20 years for propaganda and attempting to escape to Greece.
- Abaz Vesel Korçari, born in 1925 in the village of Vërseshtë, Skrapar, arrested on Aug 16, 1946, sentenced to life imprisonment (commuted to 20 years) for participating in a group against the Government.
- Nexhip Sherif Dauti, born in 1924 in the village of Palevli, Saranda, arrested on Oct 20, 1950, sentenced to 20 years for being a member of a reactionary group and collaborating with diversants to form committees to overthrow the People’s Power.
The aforementioned individuals managed to exit through the camp’s latrine canal. Police forces have pursued them; tracks were followed until near the Durrës-Tirana Road. Relevant districts and police forces have been notified. The District Directorate will provide a separate detailed report.
CHIEF OF THE SECRETARIAT
Major Rasim Dedja
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION REGARDING THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF 20 POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM THE “AGIMI BUILDINGS” CAMP, JUNE 24, 1954
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Top Secret
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Tirana, June 25, 1954
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 175
TIRANA – Attempted escape by a group of prisoners
Informs that on June 24, 1954, at Camp No. 4 in Tirana, a group of 20 prisoners had prepared an 8-meter long tunnel to exit the camp with the intent to escape. The individuals were heavily sentenced. The main elements were discovered, and in agreement with Major General Kadri Hazbiu, their interrogation has begun. They will be tried for attempted escape and crossing into Yugoslavia.
REPORT – SECRET INFORMATION REGARDING THE ESCAPE OF THREE POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM BURREL PRISON, AUGUST 2, 1967 (ONE KILLED)
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Tirana, August 3, 1967
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 179
BURREL
Informs that on August 2, 1967, at 19:30, while prison guard officer Ymer Lena and guard Hamit Laçi were conducting the routine roll call in Room No. 7 (containing 18 people), three convicts for crimes against the state (sentenced to 25 years each) – Adem Isuf Allçi, Sazan Hajdar Hajdari, and Dhori Rafail Deshnica – struck the officer and guard, knocking them unconscious. They seized the keys to the internal doors, reached the courtyard, climbed over each other to cross the gate to the terrace, and jumped from the back of the prison from a height of 4 meters.
The guard spotted them and ordered them to stop; upon their refusal, he opened fire, killing Sazan Hajdari. Dhori Deshnica was wounded but managed to exit the wire perimeter; due to his wounds, he hid in the farm vineyards. Adem Isuf Allçi fled but was captured at Fisha e Tosumit by Fitim Hoxholli and a local policeman. Deshnica was sent to the prison infirmary with wounds to his leg and back.
REPORT – ESCAPE OF FOUR POLITICAL CONVICTS FROM THE BALLSH CAMP, MAY 12, 1975
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 109
FIER
On May 12, 1975, at 04:00, the following convicts fled from Department 309, Ballsh:
- Pëllumb Isuf Kasa, 37, sentenced to 8 years.
- Bardhyl Haxhi Zaimi, 25, sentenced to 6 years.
- Hate Lirim Demo, 29, sentenced to 26 years.
- Piro Vangjel Mëngjesi, 28, sentenced to 20 years.
Measures have been taken for their search.
REPORT – ESCAPE OF HAXHI SHABAN SULA FROM THE BORSH CAMP, JUNE 11, 1976
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 138
SARANDA
On June 10, 1976, at 07:30, at the Borsh Re-education Department, convict Haxhi Shaban Sula, 26, approached the guard Fiqiri Serjiu in disguise, struck him suddenly, and knocked him into a canal. He seized the machine gun and ammunition and fled. He hijacked a farm vehicle at gunpoint, ordering driver Pilo Vrana to drive toward Saranda. After a pursuit by the department command, a skirmish ensued at Qafa e Breshërit, where he was seriously wounded and captured alive.
REPORT – ESCAPE FROM SPAÇ CAMP, DECEMBER 10, 1977
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 290
RRËSHEN
On December 9, 1977, Stavri Thoma Guxa (sentenced to 18 years for high treason) and Manol Aleks Qirici (sentenced to 10 years for agitation and propaganda) escaped from Spaç camp. The event occurred at 18:00 during the shift change. The perimeter was breached between the first and second guard posts.
REPORT – ATTEMPTED ESCAPE AND KILLING OF REFIK ZENEL BEQO AT SPAÇ, MAY 12, 1979
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 137
MIRDITA
On June 11, 1979, at 23:15, convict Refik Zenel Beqo was noticed missing from his workplace. At 00:50 on June 12, he was spotted between guard posts 15 and 16, having crossed the first fence. After being warned, he was shot and killed by the guards while attempting to cross the second barrier.
REPORT – ELIMINATION OF ESCAPEE PËLLUMB DERMANI, APRIL 1, 1991
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 78
MIRDITA
On April 1, 1991, following a search by our forces, the prisoner Pëllumb Dermani, who had escaped from prison, was eliminated. / Memorie.al
HEAD OF THE DIRECTION GROUP
Florjan Kolaneci
