By Ferdinand Dervishi
– Liljana Fagu Alla, the sister of the famous “Partizani” volleyball player, recounts that Dash was poisoned two weeks later after he demanded accountability for the destruction of Asllan Rusi’s life, his former close friend –
Memorie.al / As she articulates the first sentences, Liljana Alla, the woman who claims to be one of Dashamir Fagu’s sisters, the prominent volleyball player of the “Partizani” volleyball team, is filled with cold sweat and risks fainting. “Dash was poisoned about two weeks after he stood up at a meeting in the volleyball federation and asked for accountability for the destruction of his friend, Asllan Rusi’s life,” – she confidently articulates an unbelievable statement, the sister of the distinguished volleyball player. She goes on to list all the convincing details. He had a coffee with an “unknown” person at the Officers’ House in Tirana and immediately felt unwell, dying a few hours later. The unknown man has remained such forever, although Dashamir Fagu’s family claims they have searched for him to the ends of the earth.
Ma’am, why do you think the tragedy of Dashamir Fagu is connected to Asllan Rusi?
Because they were inseparable friends. I remember it as if it were now; they spent all their time together. They were boys that no mother will give birth to anymore. And since they were very close friends, Dashi, my brother, suffered greatly from the tragedy of Asllan Rusi. In fact, he found out quite accidentally from relatives that Asllan had been forcibly confined to a Psychiatric Hospital. This happened because my sister’s husband, Hamdi, a barber by profession, happened to be at the Psychiatric Hospital in Tirana that day, attending to some patients.
Precisely, upon arriving home for lunch, he told Dash a terrifying scene. He had seen Asllan Rusi being taken out of a police car, bound with handcuffs on his feet and hands. Asllan, upon seeing Hamdi, had asked for help: “Hamdi, what have I done…?! I haven’t done anything to be tied up?!” He seemed very terrified. After hearing this account, I recall that Dash immediately left for the Psychiatric Hospital. Since that time, I noticed that Dash lost much of his daily behavior; he became more withdrawn. Asllan was his closest friend.
Why do you suspect that the death of Dashamir Fagu is related to the story of Asllan Rusi?
Because the death of our brother, under unclear circumstances, occurred just two weeks after he stood up and asked in a meeting of the volleyball federation for the history of the destruction of Asllan Rusi’s life, his volleyball friend, to be clarified. It was a tumultuous time, and some of his friends pulled him by the jacket to sit down and not talk in that manner, but Dash did not listen. I think that this very request of my brother predetermined his fate.
When did the event occur?
Perhaps in July 1991, since Dash died on August 3 of the same year, so about a month later.
Doesn’t it seem to you that at that time, there were interested parties who were more powerful and wanted the story of Asllan Rusi not to be uncovered?
Not at all. The circumstances suggest that they were and still are very powerful today. At that time, my brother was clearly aligned against them. A few months earlier, an incident had occurred at the “Enver Hoxha” United Officers’ School. My brother, Dash, who was a teacher there, and the commander, had their shoulders at the doors of the weapons storage, not allowing them to be opened.
At that time, a phonogram from Ramiz Alia had arrived at the United School, which stated that the bust of Enver Hoxha should be preserved, even using force. I think that this incident also led to my brother being targeted.
Why do you think Dashamir Fagu was poisoned?
First, let me tell you how it happened… so you will understand why I am suspicious. The event occurred on August 3, 1991. In the morning, Dash was with a friend of his named Arjan at a café near “Ali Demi” school. After parting from him, Dash went to the Officers’ House, which is located by the Lana Bridge, where he sat at a table with two others, one of whom was a doctor. According to the testimony of the doctor, who visited our home three days later…
Dash had first had a coffee and then a glass of “Vermouth” (now the same drink is called “Martini”). Immediately afterward, his face had turned yellow. The two men accompanying him advised him to drink another coffee, but he refused. They parted ways around 1:30 PM. From that moment on, Dash did not feel well. In the middle of the night, he complained to his wife that he had shoulder pain.
To calm her down, he added, “But my pulse is 60. I’m fine…”! With those words on his lips, he passed away. We were notified at four in the morning, and we found Dash still warm. A day later, when the burial took place, we noticed that he had had a hemorrhage. This also made us suspicious.
How did the doctors classify the death?
They said it was related to the heart, but we never believed it. An uncle of ours insisted that an autopsy be performed, but the rest of us opposed it. It was a time when autopsies were still considered a desecration of the body of the deceased among the people. Now we all regret that decision.
Why don’t you believe the doctors’ version?
Because Dash had never been sick, he did not suffer from any illness, and he was still very physically strong, even though he was in his forties. And finally, because we have not yet found the third person who was with Dash that day. Even the doctor does not recognize him. We think he poisoned him. And we continue with this belief. Only if that person is found someday and convinces us otherwise, perhaps we will change our stance…!/Memorie.al
