Dashnor Kaloçi
Part six
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, 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 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 foreign fashion clothes, which in his arm carried the sports bag that he never removed from his shoulder and on the other arm, a large 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 “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 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, the 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 Director of the III Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Tirana, regarding the circumstances of the escape of Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, at the Titograd Railway Station
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
THIRD DIRECTORY
Secret
Examples No. 1
Tirana 1985
Information
From our sources and the analysis of the scene of May 27, 1985 in the city of Titograd, it appears that:
- In the city of Titograd, from the verifications and conversations made so far in general in the premises of local trade, hotels, and at the railway station for the freight train, it appears that the event that took place was not learned by Yugoslav citizens and workers. Thus in the freight train station, where during the last days there have been 15 vehicles of the Export Park, as well as this station itself is not more than 100 meters away from the scene, the unloading staff and workers until 2.6. 1985, have not spoken about this event.
Even in the conversations that have been made with the employees of the outpatient shops of the trade near the train station who, ocularly have a sufficient look to see the movements around the environment, it has not been managed to learn anything about this event or at least the circumstances that developed for the disappearance of our two athletes.
On June 2, 1985, the Jugospet forwarder at the freight train station said, among other things: “On June 1, 1985, my brother (working as a UDB officer in Titograd – our note) told me that days ago There, two Albanian athletes who came from Poland have disappeared, for which the militia has taken search measures, checkpoints have been set up, it is required day and night, but so far there are no concrete results. We have raised the version that both these athletes are hiding in Titograd, and that they were not robbed by others.
At our center these days we were told that an official in charge of the Federal Secretariat of Internal Affairs has ordered that measures be taken to find out where the Albanian athletes are hiding “.
- We analyzed the scene in Titograd and in advance we think that both athletes must have left the group intentionally, and not be forcibly abducted by the UDB authorities. We base this version on the fact that the constituent elements of the event, such as the time of the event, the objects surrounding the scene, the density of vehicle movement and those parked on the side of the road, the numerous entrances and exits of citizens at railway stations, are such that robbery forcibly there, to be watched by trade workers and Yugoslav citizens, which would cause noise in the area.
Consequently, given the fact that from the conversations that took place with the trade employees in the vicinity of the scene, where so far nothing is known, there are such circumstances that Aleksandër Kondo and ……………………… leaving the group thus realizing their escape on the way home.
- From the verifications we made it appears that the Yugoslav border authorities and customs, in no case did not ask our export drivers about the event. Nor do we find that our drivers and other employees of trade enterprises, who are now working in Titograd for the evasion of export goods, are taken under surveillance and detained by the militia bodies.
DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF III
S. R.
Report from the Albanian mission to the UN in New York, on the testimony of a Kosovar regarding the request made by Kondo and Sukniqi, for political asylum
Secret
Single copy
Tirana on 13.6.1985
New York by phone 935 dated 8. 6. 1985 announces:
Sh.————— He did not say that from a telephone conversation that the latter had with the Immigration Office in Belgrade, he was told that two of our athletes had sought political asylum in Yugoslavia. And that by the end of June or the beginning of July, they will emigrate to the US.
As above from the Kosovar ……………………….!
Leading Officer
B. M.
Protest note of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed to the Yugoslav embassy in Tirana, to return to Albania the two Albanian athletes who escaped to Titograd
NOTE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RPS OF ALBANIA TO THE YUGOSLAV EMBASSY IN TIRANA
Tirana
May 30
Today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the R.P.S. of Albania, addressed to the embassy of R.S.F. of Yugoslavia in Tirana, a note regarding the sudden disappearance of two Albanian athletes in Titograd, during their transit to Albania.
The note reads: “As notified by Note No. 722 dated 29 May 1985, to the Yugoslav Embassy in Tirana, on 28 May 1985, at around 7.00 am, two Albanian athletes suddenly disappeared in Titograd. Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi.
They had participated in the European Weightlifting Championships in Poland, and on their way back to Albania, they were passing through the Yugoslav territory on the route Belgrade – Titograd – Hani i Hotit.
For this disappearance of the two athletes, the head of the Albanian team asked for the help of the police authorities of the city of Titograd. On the same issue, the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade repeatedly addressed the Federal Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia on 28, 29, and 30 May 1985.
Likewise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of R.P.S. of Albania, with a note addressed to the Yugoslav embassy in Tirana, asked the Federal Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, through the competent bodies to investigate what happened to the two aforementioned athletes and take the necessary measures for them to return immediately to Albania.
Although almost three days have passed since the announcement of the disappearance in Yugoslav territory of two Albanian citizens, and despite these repeated requests by the Yugoslavs, no explanation has yet been given for their fate.
The disappearance in Titograd of Albanian athletes Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, provided with Yugoslav visas, as well as the surprising silence of the Yugoslav authorities, has created a great concern for their lives.
The situation created around the two Albanian athletes, cannot but lead to the conclusion that: we are dealing with a serious political act committed by certain forces that want to damage the Albanian-Yugoslav relations.
In view of the above, the Yugoslav authorities bear full responsibility. Formulating her energetic protest, M.P.J. demands the life insurance and immediate return of both athletes to their homeland “.
A.T. SH.
The request of the Albanian Weightlifting Federation to the Yugoslav and European federations, “on the fate of two Albanian athletes, missing in Titograd”!
ALBANIAN WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION REQUESTS INTERVENTION OF EUROPEAN WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATIONS AND YUGOSLAV
Tirana, June 1
The Albanian Weightlifting Federation has sent telegrams to the European and Yugoslav Weightlifting Federation, informing them those 5 days ago, two of our weightlifters, Aleksandër Kondo and Xhelal Sukniqi, disappeared without a trace in Titograd, Yugoslavia. During the European Weightlifting Championships in Poland and on their way home, they transited Yugoslav territory. The telegrams point out that despite the interventions in the competent bodies of Titograd and the Federal Secretariat for Foreign Affairs in Belgrade, to find out about their fate to date, no answer has been given by the Yugoslav authorities.
This surprising silence that is maintained, it is said in the telegrams, has increased our concern for their lives.
The Albanian Weightlifting Federation asks the European and Yugoslav Federations to intervene with the Yugoslav authorities, in order to ensure their safety and return to Albania.
A.T.SH.
Report of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency on the protests of the Albanian government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Yugoslavia, regarding the disappearance of two Albanian athletes in Titograd
NO ANSWER TO TODAY FROM THE YUGOSLAVS ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALBANIAN ATHLETES
Tirana June 1
Considering the concern caused in our public opinion by the mysterious disappearance in Titograd, during the return to the homeland from the European Weightlifting Championship that took place in Poland of our two athletes, the ATSH correspondent addressed MFA spokesman with the question: if there is any news on this issue. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied that: although 5 days have passed since the disappearance of two Albanian athletes in the Yugoslav territory, and despite our repeated requests through diplomatic channels in Tirana and Belgrade, to find out about their fate, and returning to Albania, the Yugoslav authorities remain completely silent, giving no response.
Such an attitude is really inexplicable. Certainly this prolonged silence adds to the concern of our people for their lives. The suspicion rightly arises that something contrived happened to our athletes. But the more time passes, the more the Yugoslav side becomes responsible. /Memorie.al
A.T.SH.
Continues in the next issue
