By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / During the last days of the year we left behind and the beginning of the year 2026, thousands of Albanians flocked toward border crossing points, such as Rinas, Han i Hotit, Muriqan, Morinë, Qafë-Thanë, and Kakavijë. The high influx of citizens traveling to celebrate with relatives or in the tourist resorts of neighboring countries caused long blockages on the road axes. The greatest difficulties were recorded on the Elbasan-Pogradec-Korçë axis, where vehicle columns stretched for kilometers.
A similar situation almost occurred 35 years ago, when thousands of Albanians headed toward Albania’s southern borders, but not with cars, nor with passports. Most were even unclothed and hungry, due to the extreme poverty to which the country had been reduced by the communist regime in power of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia; they fled on foot through rugged mountains in frost and snow, crossing the border illegally to go to the neighboring state of Greece.
But not everyone succeeded, as during the period of January 1990 – February 1991 alone, dozens of Albanians lost their lives from the bullets of border guards and their dogs, or froze from the cold in the mountains where they attempted to cross. Likewise, hundreds of others were arrested and sentenced to prison, from where they were released in 1991.
A part of this drama that Albanians experienced in the final days of 1990 and the first two days of 1991 is made known by this archival document that we are publishing in this article (extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), which contains the secret operative communiqué of the Ministry of Interior, in which the situation in the border districts from South to North is reflected.
Where hundreds of citizens sought and attempted to cross the state border to enter neighboring Greece. Not only civilians, but also hundreds of soldiers and officers. Even an engineering battalion from Himara set off for Saranda to cross the border. For more about this situation that occurred from December 31, 1990, until January 2, 1991, we are introduced by the document in question, published for the first time (with the respective facsimile) by Memorie.al.
THE SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS TIRANA, WHERE EVENTS AT THE BORDER POINTS OF SHKODËR, POGRADEC, KORÇË, ERSEKË, AND SARANDË DISTRICTS ARE REFLECTED, WITH MASS BORDER CROSSINGS IN THE DIRECTION OF GREECE
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 3.1.1991
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 1
SHKODRA
On 31.12.1990, Arben Mihallaq Panajoti, a soldier of the Tamarë border post, Petrit Isuf Hasanaj, [and] Petrit Shyqëri Mema, soldiers of the Tamarë border post, were detained for the reason that they violated service regulations by crossing the border.
On 31.12.1990, Ajet Haki Çela, age 22, Arben Vullnet Lila, age 19, Tomor Myslim Lila, age 22, residents of Poliçan, were detained for the reason that they were caught in an attempt to illegally cross the border at the hot border post.
On 2.1.1991, in the sector of the Bashkim border post, Ndue Gjon Shqukaj, age 27, Dile Zef Shqukaj, Llesh Gjon Shqukaj, age 15, and a 1-year-old child carried out an illegal border crossing.
GJIROKASTRA
On 31.12.1990, in the village of Upper Peshkëpi, several young people approached the “klon” [perimeter fence] post and shouted: “One two three, remove the wires, we want to go to Mitsotakis, freedom-democracy.” Later they dispersed.
On 1.1.1991, in Jergucat, a car with 13 people from Piqeras was detained. They claimed they were going to Kakavijë to cross the border, under the pretext that the border is open.
On 1.1.1991, 12 people from Narta and Delvina were detained after being caught in an attempt to illegally cross the border.
On 1.1.1991, 30 soldiers of the Engineering Battalion of Himara, after having removed their belts and caps, set off in the direction of Saranda to cross the border. During the journey, they were blocked by the Brigade commander and were turned back.
SARANDA
On 1.1.1991, at 14:25, a Greek military helicopter entered the territory of the PSRA, square 9519A, at an altitude of 256 meters and at a depth of 500 meters from the border line near the Mandillo valley.
The helicopter moved across pyramids 77, 76, 75, 79 and landed on Greek soil. The same action was performed by a military helicopter at pyramid 80, square 9941 C, which flew for 5 minutes deep into our land.
From 31.12.1990 until 1.1.1991, about 1000 people crossed the border at the crossing points of Kataeto, Stillo, Qafë-Botë, Veri, Deshnicë etc., while from the 1st to the 2nd, about 500 people crossed the border. 25 persons have been returned.
ERSEKA
On the date [missing in original], Kol Gjok Paloka, age 34, resident of Lezhë, after he was caught in an attempt to illegally cross the border.
KORÇA
On 2.1.1991, in the sector of the Vernik and Cerje border posts, tracks of border crossing by 7 people were identified.
POGRADECI
On 2.1.1991, Serjat Refat Çuko, age 20, unemployed, was detained for the reason that he attempted to cross the border illegally. /Memorie.al
HEAD OF THE DIRECTION GROUP
MIÇO NAKO
