Dashnor Kaloçi
The fourth part
Memorie.al publishes the unknown story of Aleksandër Kondos, the Albanian weightlifting legend who lost his life at the age of 27 in tragic and still completely unexplained circumstances, during a car accident in Quens New York, USA, where he was placed as a political immigrant after fleeing Albania in May 1985, staying in Yugoslavia at the time, following the return of the national team from the European Weightlifting Championships held in Poland in those days. The complete voluminous file of the former State Security in charge of Aleksandër Kondos, declassified by the Authority for Information of the files of the former State Security, where there are hundreds of pages belonging to the period from 1981 when the operational pursuit and surveillance of regularly against him by the secret services of the communist regime, until 1987, when that file was finally archived, after his tragic death.
In Tirana in the early ’80s, not only for many sports fans but also among the young people of the Albanian capital, a young man at the age of 20 stood out and stood out, both for his portrait and physique, as well as for the appearance, with the clothes of foreign fashion, who on one side of his neck carried the sports bag that he never removed from his shoulder and on the other side a large radio-tape recorder, which he brought from abroad when went out with the national weightlifting team in international activity. He was Aleksandër Kondo, a member of the “Dinamo” weightlifting team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (where at that time he served as a senior soldier in the Republic Guard, also his father), and also of the national team, which at that time, thanks to the differentiated assessment and treatment of the communist regime in power in some serious sports, had achieved high results in the international arena.
The name of Aleksandër Kondo as an athlete began to become more and more famous, especially after his high results achieved in 1984, in the Sports Palace “Partizani” of the capital, when he fixed the figures 200 kg. (in the style of pushing) electrifying thousands of sports fans, (that day more spectators were outside the sports palace than inside it), who under numerous applause, did not leave the square in front of the palace, without seeing that guy up close, who had amazed them with his results and performance. Since that day, Sander Kondo, almost became a myth in Tirana and Albania of that time, as his results came ever higher, not only in national championships, but also in the international arena where he consistently had high results. .
But much more than this period of time when Sander Kondo, was at the peak of his career, his name became even more famous and began to be discussed throughout the country, at the end of May 1985, when during an international event in the framework of the European Weightlifting Championship that took place in Warsaw, Poland, (where he lifted 210 kg.), Kondo did not return to Albania, but together with his teammate, Xhelal Sukniqi from Shkodra, from Montenegro went to Belgrade, waiting to gain political asylum in the US.
The event of the escape of two Albanian athletes caused a great commotion not only because of the great name and fame that Aleksandër Kondo had at that time, but also because that event became the object of “quarrel” between Albania and Yugoslavia, as official Tirana at that time publicly accused (in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit”), the Yugoslav authorities, saying that the two Albanian athletes had been abducted by the Yugoslav secret services (UDB) and demanded their return home.
But that claim of official Tirana had nothing real, as Kondo and Sukniqi denied it in the meeting that took place in Belgrade, between the representatives of the Albanian embassy and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the Yugoslav side, where Sander Kondo, after cursing the communist regime of Enver Hoxha again and again, tried to hit the Albanian diplomat with an ashtray, insisting that he should return to Albania, where his family and the whole society were waiting for him.
After that, Sander Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi gained political asylum in the USA, where Sukniqi is still, while Kondo, lost his life in a car accident, on May 1, 1987, (always according to the official version of the communist regime of that time ), and his remains were returned to Albania in 2003.
All these have already been known for years, as much has been written about Aleksandër Kondo as the legend of Albanian weightlifting and his father, Vangjel Kondo, has given several interviews in both print and visual media, and even made some television documentaries, for all his life and history, until the day he parted from this life. But again, the “Alexander Kondo case” has not yet been fully uncovered, especially the part related to his tragic death which continues to remain shrouded in mystery, as well as the surveillance of him by the Security of The Albanian State and its segments since 1981, which was made public for the first time by the Authority for Information of the Former State Security Files, headed by Mrs. Gentjana Mara Sula, who in 2018, handed over the file to the Kondo family, or more precisely to his father, Vangjel Kondo.
In that file that Mr. Vangjel Kondo has trusted him exclusively for the publication of Memorie.al, the light is shed and it is known, the evaluation, treatment and all the surveillance and persecution, which was done at that time by the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, one of the most voice of Albania, such as Aleksandër Kondo, who was well known in the international arena. Based on this fact, Memorie.al will publish the complete file in question (with the relevant facsimiles), in some issues of the dossier section.
Continued from the previous issue
Report of the Directorate of Internal Affairs of Tirana, with the family composition of Aleksandër Kondos
S E K R E T
Copies Nr. 1
Tirana on 10. 4. 1985
APPROVED
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
D. B.
FILE HERE
FAMILY COMPOSITION
Vangjel Nisi Kondo, male, head of the family, 1932, Pishë Poro
Antigoni Gjergj Kondo, female, wife, 1937, Berat
Aleksandër Kondo, male, son, 1960, Fier
Dhimitraq Kondo, male, son, 1961, Fier
Florika Kondo, female, daughter, 1965, Elbasan
Lindita Kondo, female, daughter, 1970, Tirana
Secret report of the Directorate of Internal Affairs of Tirana, to verify the list with the names of the athletes of the national weightlifting team that will go abroad
SECRET
Examples no. 1
Tirana on 10.4.1985
APPROVED
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
D. B.
FILE HERE
Check if the following persons appear in your records, as an opinion is required to go abroad with service.
- BERBERI FERIT REXHEP, 46 Tirana 1 Nr. 41 “M. Lleshi”, teacher in the school “S. Frashëri”.
- BEQIRAJ GUDAR DAUT, 48 Durrës 4, “V. Luarasi” P 8 SH 2/4 in Q. Calculator.
- BOGDANI XHAFERR SELIM, AP. 43 Tirana 5 “K. e Peza” No. 46, carpenter in Komb. “Josif Pashko”.
- BAKIRI XHELIL MUHEDIN, AP. 36, Gjirokastra 2 “Marsel Kashen” B.11 15/1 P. 4, SH. 1 lecturer at IKF “Vojo Kushi”.
- BUNECI NIKOLLA PAVLI, 48 Tirana “Bardhok Biba” Nr. 15 coaches in the Federation of Serious Sports.
- BERISHA MUHARREM ISA, 64 Tirana 6, “P. Leka” B.11 P. 100 workers in the “Dinamo” Factory.
- BUSHI FATMIR SARAÇ, 62 Tirana B “M. Gjollesha” P11. Moskati SH. 5 AP. 7 soldiers K.S. “Partizani”
- FERUNI PROPARIM MEHDI, 48 Tirana B “M. Gjollesha” P11. Moscow SH 5/7 student at I.K.F. “Vojo Kushi”.
- HAXHIHYSENI AGRON SKËNDER, 59 Tirana 6 “Ll. Bonata” P 46/4 soldier in K.S. “Dynamo”.
- HAKANI MIRJAN HYSEN, 61 Tirana 8 “Y. Kurti” P. 23 SH. 1/4 worker in K.S. “17 November”.
- ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- LOLI ALEKSANDËR VANGJEL, 59 Tirana 8 “M. Gjollesha” P 11 Moskati P. 35, AP. 6, student at I.K.F. “Vojo Kushi”.
- KONDO ALEKSANDËR VANGJEL, 60 Tirana 1 “H. Guga” P 2 AP 70 worker in Ndër. of Agricultural Tools.
- NASKA RIZA KARAFIL, 57 4. “K. Gega” P. 11 puntor OMT
- QIPO MIHAL PANDI, AP. 32 Korçë 3, “F. Xhajko” P. 63/3 Sh. 1/10, employee in the Scientific Sector of KKFS of RPSSH.
We are waiting for an answer to the above
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTER-DISCOVERY BRANCH
G. B.
For no. 13, I do not agree.
F. Z.
I do not agree with No. 13, because in the materials charged to him, the last time he came from Spain, he brought with him dirty pornographic materials which were seized at the customs.
By order of the leadership of the Ministry of Interior (minister) he was decided to be detained and not to go abroad. There is evidence of an attempted escape and it is accompanied by ordinary and immoral elements.
Operational Workshop
O. F.
The secret report of the Director of Albanian Counterintelligence, for the information given by the agent “Shqiponja”, regarding the dollars that Xhelal Sukniqi received from an athlete of his team
SECRET
Single copy
Tirana on 31.5.1985
OPERATIVE NOTE
Today I was called by the agent “Shqiponja” who, unable to move because he had just left the hospital in a camouflaged way, told me: “Regarding the note given by the radio last night, I heard that the departure of the two athletes must be deliberately because, another athlete here, has expressed that to that of Shkodra, I gave him 1000 dollars to bring me some loot. But apparently he, I wanted to buy a “Fiat”. upset and crying over the loss of those dollars. “Regarding the above, B. p. was instructed to clarify who is the athlete who gave these dollars, the circumstances of recognizing and giving them, who has other knowledge.
Simultaneously take steps to meet B. p. in his house being alone, since he does not move. At this meeting, this operational note will be reported.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTER-CONTROL BRANCH
N. GJ.
Report of the Operational Worker on the testimony of the former Security collaborator with the nickname “Lake”, regarding the dollars and gold coins that Alexander Kondo had received
Secret
Single copy
Operational Note
On 31.5.1985, I, the State Security Operational Worker VK, at the request of the former collaborator “Liqeni”, met with him, who informed me that on the same date, the latter had a conversation with the soldier… ………………… . Who had told him that Aleksandër Kondo had taken with him 50 pieces of gold, as well as some dollars.
These gold and dollars were given to him by his father who is an officer. He also continued. ..When he returned and other times from abroad, Aleksandër Kondo, had brought drugs from there. Likewise Alexander, had many claims for his good body to Hollywood.
Xhelal Sukniqi also told A.T. that there were people abroad.
Rating: The data is important, as it shows that Alexander had long been engaged in hostile activity.
Clarification: ………………………Second year soldier in ward 9341 Vora, First Battalion, Third Company, we do not have any information about him.
Operational measure: The operational note will be sent to the Security Branch of the ward and garrison.
Note: According to P.O. accompanying the overseas team, E.M., Alexander Kondos’s father, had gone to the Hani i Hotit border crossing to wait for his son.
Operational Workshop
V. K.
This operational note should be passed to the Directorate of Internal Affairs, Tirana.
1.6.1985
OPERATIONAL WORKSHOPS
G.B. e N.GJ
The report of the Security Officer on the behavior of the athletes and the leaders of the national weightlifting team in Poland, as well as the departure from the teams of Aleksandër Kondos and Xhelal Sukniqi, in Montenegro
SECRET
Single copy
Tirana on 1.6.1985
E K S T R A K T
EXCLUDED FROM INFORMATION ON THE ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING TEAM IN KATOVICA, POLAND
From 22 to 26 May 1985 in the city of Katowice in Poland, the 44th European Weightlifting Championship took place, in which the national team of our country also participated. During his stay in Katowice, as in a hotel, training, competitions, and in his free time, the incorrect attitude of the athlete Aleksandër Kondo was noticed.
That he, looking for and in any case, entered into conversations with counters, waiters, and cleaners. In the afternoon of May 24, 1985, the Polish side sent our team to visit the Non-Ferrous Metals Plant. Here, the incorrect behavior of the athletes ra ..Who stood out in the conversation with the women who accompanied our team?
On the occasion of the end of the championship, the Poles, on the evening of May 26, 1985, hosted a dinner with the participation of all teams. At this dinner, contrary to the rules and with the permission of team manager M. Q., the N.B. team coach went and sat at the Greek team table, where he stayed for about 30 minutes.
At the Warsaw airport, the Polish customs officer reprimanded him and demanded that Alexander Kondo pay for the amount he had above the norm. But with the intervention of the First Secretary of our embassy in Warsaw, he was allowed to pass.
On May 28, 1985, after traveling by train from Belgrade to Titograd, at 7.00 am, Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, like all other athletes, took leave and went to drink water nearby and returned again.
At 7.20 am, the bus arrived and after the athletes got on and took their seats, the sudden disappearance of Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi was ascertained.
Due to this concern, their search is organized in the city of Titograd until 12.00, and at the end of this event, our embassy in Belgrade was notified, which ordered the head of the team to report to the Titograd militia.
After the denunciation, the militia replied that they had no knowledge, and that if they found them they would inform them. /Memorie.al
DIRECTOR OFFICER OF THE FIRST BRANCH
M.Z.
Continues in the next issue
