By Kastriot Dervishi
– The story of one of the embroiderers in communist prisons, who entered in 1945 and were released in ’86, suffering 33 years, 6 months and 4 days –
Memorie.al/ One of the most famous embroiderers, during the communist regime, a living example of morality and patriotism, Osman Kazazi (1917-1999), spent 33 years, 6 months and 4 days in political prison. They could not stain and bend it. His life is one of the most interesting stories, started full of dreams and followed by all vicissitudes. The deceased graduated from Shkodra high school in 1940. For 3 years, in the years 1940-1943, he attended university studies in Italy, for pharmaceuticals. In 1942, he became a member of the “National Front”, by Halim Bege. In June 1943, without finishing the university, he returned to Albania to contribute to the Anti-Fascist Movement.
After 11 months of political activity, mainly propaganda, he was withdrawn from the “National Front” in June 1944. Despite this, he was treated as a “war criminal”, without any charges being proven against him.
-The period of imprisonment:
1944-1959, 14 years, 3 months, 21 days;
1966-1986, 19 years, 2 months, 13 days
-Age at the beginning of the sentence: 28 years old
-Age at the end of the sentence: 69 years old
The first sentence
He was arrested exactly on 14.11.1944, three days before the communists officially took power in Tirana. At that time, furious human hunting was very widespread. Educated people who were not members of the Communist Party were seen as enemies.
Kazazi was tried and accused of being a simple member of an organization, despite the fact that this was only one year out of five years of the war.
During the investigative and judicial process, he denied having been a member of the “National Front” circle, or having led a military unit. He declared that he had only been a simple member, dealing with the distribution of tracts.
“I have never spied and arrested anyone” – he declared before the court. He also denied having knowledge of, or participation in, the murders of the massacre of February 4, 1944.
At the trial, four witnesses appeared in favor of Osman and two against him. In addition to the lack of evidence, the residents of the “Ali Bey” neighborhood were also against the punishment, who declared that; Osmani was among the “most honest boys in the neighborhood” and always helped them. However, the doom was predetermined.
Apparently, for the communists who had just come to power, the evidence did not matter. His case was handled by the Military Court of the Military Province of the First Corps of Tirana, composed of: Lieutenant Colonel Bilbil Klosi, Ismail Çaushi, Argjir Lipivani, with Major Prosecutor Gjon Banushin.
The court, with decision no. 138, dated 12.5.1945, based on article 15 of law no. 41, dated 14.1.1945, declared him guilty and sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment and confiscation of property. He was released from prison on 7.3.1959 and immediately interned, for 5 years, in Shtyllas in Fier, with decision no. 1, dated 17.3.1959 of the Deportation Commission, “for social danger”.
Second and third sentence
After the end of the exile, Osman Kazazi was arrested again, on 31.10.1966, accused of agitation and propaganda. At this time, he was a worker at the State Agricultural Enterprise, “Gjergj Dimitrov” in Tirana.
Less than two weeks after the arrest, he fell seriously ill and was admitted to the hospital, due to a severe cold. This time he would be imprisoned on charges stemming from his exile.
Based on the time, two years after the release, it means that the imprisonment was completely illegal. Six witnesses were used, but all turned out to be false.
Osman Kazazi did not accept any of their testimony. The witnesses have signed acts according to which; he lived well in Italy, he should not have returned, because he listened to the “Voice of America”, about Zogu, etc.
Investigator Iljaz Haxhiaj conducted the investigation against him. Osman Kazazi declared that he did not agree to have held conversations against the government, and he did not even hang out with anyone.
He maintained the same attitude in the process of confronting the witnesses. Eventually, Osman Kazazi was tried by the Tirana District Court.
Declaring him guilty, for the act of agitation and propaganda, based on article 73/1 of the Criminal Code, the court, with decision no. 14, dated 11.3.1973, sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.
It was left in force by decision no. 63, dated 7.4.1967, of the Supreme Court. He was re-convicted again, during his imprisonment. Finally, he was released from prison on 13.1.1986. Memorie.al
