Dashnor Kaloçi
Part fourteen
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 Queens New York, USA, where he was placed as a political emigrant after fleeing Albania in May 1985, staying in Yugoslavia at the time, after the national team returned 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, containing 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 beyond the young people of the Albanian capital, a young man stood out and stood out, then at the age of 20, as for his portrait and physique , as well as for the appearance, with the clothes of foreign fashion, who in his arms carried the sports bag that he never took off from his shoulder and on the other side, a big radio-tape recorder, which he brought from abroad when going 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 name and great fame that Aleksandër Kondo had at that time, but also because that event became the object of “quarrel” between Albania and Yugoslavia, as Tirana was official at the time. Publicly accused (in the newspaper “Zeri 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 clarified, 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 State Security Operational Worker, on the evidence received from the Albanian Intelligence Agency in New York, regarding the movements, meetings and conversations of Kondo and Sukniqi with the immigrants in the USA
Secret
Examples Nr. 2
Tirana on 19.12.1986
Comrade B.S. from New York with the wire “Extremely urgent” no.1569, dated 14.12.1986 announces:
Source given “6131”
Toni no.1240 announces that:
Source “6131” with the object and his friend, had met several times. In fact, he meets the latter more often, because he has a stable house, while at work him! With the facility, as far as he informed us, he met and talked in the source bar, since the first days of November. In this conversation was also present ………………………! With the latter, the facility goes to the bar that has “6131” almost once a month.
The building did not have a stable residential address. He has changed these often. During November, he and his friend worked at W. in New York. In the meeting he had these days with “6131”, for the Congress of OKLL, among other things, he said that the facility was removed from W. and put to work, in the restaurant of a Greek in Long Island, where it is located and residential. Both the facility and its companion have done various jobs, but with separate periods as cleaners, dishwashers, garbage collectors, ticket sellers, etc.
Xhelali has been and is regular at work. He has provided income for living and housing from the various jobs he has done. But also from what they received up to a month ago from the Immigration Aid Office. Now this aid has been cut off. At first they were helped by various fugitives. “6131” also told him that after the blow he was given …………………, the object was afraid that he would suffer and he as e .., although they are quite different from each other.
It is for this reason that “6131”, that he often changes residence and work to be very much saved, from every move he makes. He recently met with “6131” on November 22 and 23, at the Bloc Congress. But on both days, he stayed only a few minutes and left.
In addition to “6131” and “3869”, he also met the object and its friend “6296”, “6403”, “6126”, “6125”, “6167”, etc. In the meeting they had with “4550”, he told them that he would be interested in meeting and talking to them.
At the earliest opportunity, they will send a plan of measures to pursue them.
The wire has been seen by Comrade Minister and Comrade S.R. without notes.
It was published in three copies, for the source, for A. Kondon, and for Xh. Sukniqin.
Operational Workshop
D.M.
Plan of action of the III State Security Directorate, with the respective tasks for the pursuit, surveillance, control and pressure that would be put on Kondos and Sukniqi in the USA
Secret
Single copy
Tirana on 24.12.1986
APPROVED
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE III
R. Z.
OPERATING AGENCY DIRECTED BY ALEXANDER KONDOS
IN ACTIVE PROCESSING 2.A.
The mentioned is followed, in active processing 2 / A, as a person with risks and sharp tendencies. His hostile activity together with his friend Xhelal Sukniqi and their dangerousness has been proven by the elaboration so far and consists in the fact that they have expressed and are expressing very hostile towards our country, our social system and the leadership of the Party and the state, going up to threatening phone calls to the Mission and our comrades there.
They are recruited by UDB, and from it can be pushed into other dangerous actions, due to their hostile predisposition especially A. Kondo. For these reasons, as well as to prevent and interrupt in time any possible action against our country and our citizens abroad, the following operational agency measures will be taken:
Follow up and clarify these key issues:
To be elaborated and followed by precedent by the New York residence, all the hostile activity, personal and social life of Alexander Kondo.
To be kept under strong and continuous control, to learn and record his every move outside New York, USA, to prevent any tendency and opportunity, to carry out sharp actions against our representations and our citizens abroad.
To work in depth and breadth, the connection with UDB, the current degree of these connections, the tasks they have taken from this discovery, and what are the intentions of UDB, or other discoveries, today and in the future to use A. Kondon and Xh. Sukniqi, against our country for purposes of terror, group involvement or as individuals for diversionary activities, etc.
The following measures will be taken to follow and continuously clarify these objectives:
Ask New York to clarify as soon as possible the messages of the Comrade Minister regarding the wire. 1452 dated 20.11.1986:
When and how did the source “6131” meet Alexander Kondon, now?
Where does A. Kondo work, live and live?
Apart from the source “6131”, who else from the sources has met or has the possibility of contacting A. Kondon?
New York Telegram until 10.12.1986.
A. TH.
Controlled by Branch VI President, M.D.
For the processing of A. Kondos and Xh. Sukniqi, to activate with concrete tasks, the resources of the New York residence that have provided so far, “6432”, “6120”, “6131”, “6403”, “6402” and “6110”.
For resources “6131” and “6403”, the residency should draw up lines of behavior, to approach and process step by step A. Kondon and determine the other sources that have the ability to process it, directly or indirectly.
Performs residency within the first 3 months of 1987
Controlled by the President of Branch VI,
M. D.
According to a source “6120”, dated 2.11.1986, A. Kondo, has left work and now lives with Xh. Sukniqi as they have …………………… and want to buy a big car to use for benefits.
To clarify how much this data stands, …………………………………… and to use this to expose and discredit them, as ordinary people without personality.
Performs New York residency ongoing
Controlled by Branch VI President, M.D.
One of the data shows that A. Kondo can be stabilized by living in Italy, Belgium or any other country in Europe. Follow this data through the sources and clarify, if he continues to have this opinion, if he owes it to UDB and whether it will support, when it can be realized, the concrete place and the goals that are intended. For this to follow with priority all his movements outside the US.
Performs ongoing residency
Controlled by Branch VI President, M. D.
According to a data dated 28.3.1986, from the New York residence it appears that A. Kondo of Xh. Sukniqi, have signed a statement of cooperation with UDB, that they were ordered by her to frequently attend the Yugoslav consulate in New York and that in one case it was found that they were given money at the consulate by Yugoslav detectives, in the presence of some other fugitives. For further processing and deepening of this data, instruct the possible sources and verify:
Which fugitives have been present, and what do they say about it?
If UDB has given her other money and if she keeps it that way?
What instructions and tasks does UDB give you?
Performs ongoing residency
Controlled by Branch VI President, M.D.
According to source “6402” F.M. and R.S. have expressed that A. Kondo, has refused to speak for the radio of Legality for fear that something will happen to the people here.
Use this in order, through the family ties that A. Kondo has here, after being studied, to look at the possibility of making a letter of pressure from them.
Perform A. Th. within the first 6 months of 1987
Controlled by Branch VI President, M. D.
Study the conditions and possibilities and use any suitable opportunity to make them and any anonymous phone calls to intimidate them.
Performs ongoing residency
Controlled by Branch VI President, M. D.
Based on the data on expressions of dissatisfaction by A. Kondos and Xh. Sukniqi, in the address of ………………………… .Who according to them is not interested in the work and bad living they do, to use this:
That our agency, which has links and contact opportunities with these fugitives, work to increase and deepen these dissatisfactions.
On this basis, using other data on negative habits and weaknesses that we know about them, to process an anonymous letter.
To follow and process his activity and connections with Legality and its leaders who, try to keep him closer and engage him in hostile activities. To verify and clarify the participation of A. Kondos in the last Congress of the Independent Bloc, his motives and attitude.
Performs ongoing residency
Controlled by Branch VI President, M. D.
New York Residence, to study and record, all social connections, friendships, etc., of A. Kondos and Xh. Sukniqit. Differentiate them, recommending and selecting suitable elements from them, for study and operational interest.
Performs residency within the 3 months of 1987
Controlled by the President of Branch VI M. D.
New York Residence does and follows, with regular action plan A. Kondon and Xh. Sukniqi and send us to the center as well.
Performs residency within the first 3 months of 1987
Controlled by Branch VI President, M.D.
For the above issues, four operations should be performed on the New York’s residence to pursue the priority processing tasks of A. Kondos and Xh. Sukniqit.
Perform A.Th. until 30.1.1987
Controlled by Branch VI President, M.D.
At the end of 1987, to analyze the plan of measures and depending on the dynamics of their hostile activity, to compile other tasks in continuation of the plan of measures.
OPERATIONAL WORKSHOP
A.Th.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BRANCH VI
M.D.
Reports of the Chief Officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for the information received from the Albanian Intelligence Agency in the USA, regarding the movements, attitudes and conversations of Kondo and Sukniqi with the Albanians who fled there
SECRET
Single copy
Tirana on 6.5.1987
Source “6403”
New York 5.8.1986
I N F O R M A T I O N
The fugitive, Aleksandër Kondo, is in a very bad moral condition, overwhelmed, and upset. Now he has started a second job as a cleaner in a store. He has not spoken of any sharp action against Albania. He said that he sent money to Albania, but they sent it back.
DIRECTOR OFFICER
N. Gj. Secret
Specimens No. 1
Tirana on 22.5.1987
Taken p.op. B.S.
Source given “6131”
Dated 17.11.1986
I N F O R M A T I O N
The fugitives Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, although living separately from each other with work, were both placed in the building where A.B. in Manhattan, New York and work as cleaning workers. The source said that like other times, Aleksandri continues to express dissatisfaction with the regime in Albania, while Xhelali is more reserved.
Operational Workshop
D. M. Secret
Specimens No. 1
Tirana on 22.5.1987
Received P.op. B.S.
Source given “6131”
Dated 31.7.1986
I N F O R M A T I O N
Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi are still in New York but recently, they no longer live together. Alexander goes from time to time to the restaurant that has the source and this, has always given him to eat. But he never gave her money, although Alexander sometimes gave her the indirect word for money. They both intend to go to work to ………………………… .., or as cleaning workers in the building where është is in charge ………………… ..! Recently, both of them, especially Xhelali, do not speak ill of Albania and remain scared. Memorie.al
Operational Workshop
D. M.
Continues in the next issue
