“In the presence of prosecutor Rrapi Mino and Doctor N. V., by me I. Seiti, head of the Investigation Directorate, the decision was executed by shooting, for the enemies A. Këllezi and K. Theodhosi…”/ Minutes of May 31, 1977

By Dashnor Kaloçi

Part Five

Memorie.al / Exactly 48 years ago, on May 31, 1977, somewhere on the outskirts of Tirana, in a place that to this day remains undiscovered, a firing squad set up on special orders from the then Minister of the Interior, Kadri Hazbiu, executed with a bullet in the head, Abdyl Këllezin Koço Theodhosin, and Xhavit Sallakun, who had been arrested in 1975, accused by Enver Hoxha, as the main leaders of the “Saboteur Group in the Economy”. Along with Këllezin and Theodhosin, two other ministers, Kiço Ngjela (Minister of Trade) and Vasil Kati (Minister of Foreign Trade), were sentenced to 20 and 15 years in political prison, respectively, and several senior officials from the Ministry of Economy were also sentenced to heavy sentences.

Këllëzi and Theodhosi, former members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Albanian People’s Party, deputies of the People’s Assembly and deputy prime ministers and ministers for more than three decades, were among the few from the top leadership of the Albanian People’s Party who had studied and graduated in the West, since the period of the Zog Monarchy, and likewise, Ngjela and Vasil Kati, had studied abroad and had returned to Albania immediately after the occupation of the country by fascist Italy, to join the partisan ranks, even with leadership functions. By striking this so-called “Hostile Saboteur Group in the Economy”, Enver Hoxha was striking the “brain of the Economy”, since from the end of the war until that time, Këllez, Theodhosi, Ngjela and Kati, had held key functions of the Albanian economy.

While these things are already very well known, as much has been said and written in the more than three decades since the collapse of the communist regime, Memorie.al has secured several documents belonging to the fund of the former Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, headed by Haxhi Lleshi, who at that time considered the issue of the “Saboteur Group in the Economy”, based on the reports and information reports sent to it by the High Court headed by Aranit Çela, which also conducted the judicial process against that “Group”.

In addition to the above, the documents in question also include the requests of Këllez and Theodhos (in their own handwriting), sent to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, for the pardon of life, as well as the minutes of the meetings of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, with the discussions of Enver Hoxha (who also gave the report at the beginning of the meeting) Haxhi Lleshi, Spiro Koleka, Shefqet Peçi (two vice-chairmen of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly), Telo Mezin (secretary of the Presidium), Jovan Bardhi, Muharrem Sefa, Nuredin Hoxha, Pilo Peristeri, Rrapo Dervishi, Spiro Moisiu, Zina Franja and Maliq Sadushi, members of the Presidium, which we will publish in several issues, along with the relevant photos and facsimiles.

Continued from the previous issue

DOCUMENT WITH THE DECREE OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY, SENT TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, NOTIFYING THAT THE REQUEST FOR LIFE PARDON OF ABDYL KËLLEZ AND KOÇO THEODHOS HAS BEEN REJECTED

PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

No.64/13

                                                 MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

                                           (Criminal Decision Enforcement Branch)

HIGH COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

For information: GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

                                              TIRANA

Attached, we send you decree no. 5589 dated 31.5.1977 “On the pardon of sentences”.

We also send you the list of persons to whom the Presidium of the People’s Assembly decided not to pardon the remainder of the sentence.

SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDIUM

                   Telo Mezini

Conc. B. Mosho

Dr. B. Mikeli

Copy 4.

PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

No. 512/

MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

               Directorate of Investigation – GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE

For information: HIGH COURT

TIRANA

The Presidium of the People’s Assembly, in its meeting of 31.5.1977, refused to grant clemency to:

Abdyl Mehmet Këllezi, born in 1920, from Tirana, sentenced by decision no. 4 dated 17.5.1977, of the Criminal College of the Supreme Court, to death (shooting) for the crimes provided for in articles 72 and 73, in combination with article 76 of the Criminal Code.

Koço Llambi Theodhosi, born in 1913, resident of Tirana, sentenced by decision no. 4 dated 17.5.1977, of the Criminal College of the Supreme Court, to death (shooting) for the crimes provided for in articles 72 and 73, in combination with article 76 of the Criminal Code.

Xhavit Imer Sallaku, born in 1929, born in Tirana and resident in Fier, sentenced by decision no. 67, dated 25.3.1977 of the Fier District Court, to death (shooting), for the crime of treason against the Fatherland, economic sabotage and agitation and propaganda against the People’s Government.

Shaban Myslim Lika, dt. 1907, born and resident in the village of Miras in the Korça district, sentenced by decision no. 65, dated 10.4.1977, of the Korça District Court, to death (shooting) for having complicitly killed Zaim Lika for weak reasons and attempted to kill Peme Lika, as well as having violently opposed the representative of the government.

Osman Ymer Zalla, dt. 1938, born and resident in the village of Bruz – Zallë in the Kruja district, sentenced by decision no. 26 dated 13.4.1977, of the Krujë District Court with death (shooting) for having complicitly killed Hajdar Shehu for weak motives; for embezzlement of socialist property in collaboration and in large proportions; for embezzlement of citizens’ property, for embezzlement of found property; for illegal possession of weapons and for failing to report a serious crime.

The decisions for the above persons shall be executed by shooting.

SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDIUM

          Telo Mezini

SECRET REPORT OF THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, KADRIU HAZBIU, SENT TO THE DIRECTORATE OF INVESTIGATION AND THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, ON THE SHOOTING OF ABDYL KËLLEZI AND KOÇO THEODHOSI

POLICIAN SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

SECRET

                                           MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Single copy

No. 367/1 Prot

                                   Tirana, 31.5.1977

SUBJECT: On the execution by death (shooting) of the two convicts.

TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS TO THE

DIRECTORATE OF INVESTIGATION

For information: PROSECUTOR GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

TIRANA – Based on decision no. 4 dated 17.5.1977 of the Criminal College of the Supreme Court of the RSPSH, the following persons were sentenced to death (shooting):

1. Abdyl Këllezi

1. Koço Theodhosi.

Whereas the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, by letter No. 512/1 dated 31.5.1977, announces the rejection of the request for clemency for their lives;

                             I ORDER:

That the convicts Abdyl Këllezi and Koço Theodhosi be executed by death (shooting) at the designated place, on 31.5.1977, at 15:00.

I charge the designated group of the Directorate of Investigation with their execution.

Before they are executed, the above convicts shall be notified that the request for clemency for their lives has been rejected by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly.

After the execution, the person in charge of this work shall keep the minutes of the execution of the decision, which shall also contain the last word of the executed.

MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS

KADRI HAZBIU

STATEMENT OF IDRIZ SEITI, HEAD OF THE SPECIAL BRANCH AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, REGARDING THE EXECUTION BY SHOOTING OF ABDYL KELLEZI AND KOÇO THEODHOSI

Top Secret

Single copy

MORNING MINUTE

In Tirana, on 31.5.1977

Based on the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs No. 367/1 dated 31.5.1977 at 15:00, at the designated place, in the presence of prosecutor Rrapi Mino and doctor Nevzat Vigani, by me Idriz Seiti, head of the Investigation Directorate, the death sentence (shooting) was executed for the enemies Abdyl Këllezi and Koço Theodhosi.

Before the execution, each of these enemies was notified by the prosecutor that the Presidium of the People’s Assembly rejected their requests for pardon.

After that they said:

1. Abdyl Këllezi: I have nothing to say.
2. Koço Theodhosi: I have nothing.

In conclusion, their execution was carried out by me Idriz Seiti and they were examined by Doctor Nevzat Vigani, who ascertained their death. Memorie.al

In charge of execution:

Idriz Seiti / Prosecutor: Rrapi Mino / Doctor: Nevzat Vigani