“The execution of the condemned to death was carried out by a firearm, by one person, or by hanging on a rope, while it was done by firing squad in rare cases…”/ How was a court decision carried out by death, in communism?

By Kastriot Dervishi

Memorie.al / In the period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia, i.e. until the 1990s, after those sentenced to death, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly did not spare life, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced . After this announcement, the Branch (in the years 1974-1983, the directorate) of Investigation in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, prepared the minister’s order. After the year 1983, the order for the execution of the decision was prepared by the Department of Implementation of Criminal Decisions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The order charged the Internal Affairs Branch of the district where the decision was given. The plan of measures in the Branch was prepared by the deputy chief of police and the head of the investigation (after 1983, by the chief or the referent of the criminal decision enforcement sector, including participation in the following plan).

Execution was carried out by firearm, by one person, or by hanging on a rope. Executions by firing squads have been used in very rare cases. From the past, very few orders and plans of such measures have been inherited, because for most of the years, they were considered temporary documents. More or less, the plan of action was in the following form:

approved

Head of the Department of Internal Affairs

The plan of measures on the execution by death (shooting) of the convicted (…….).

For the execution of the court decision on the death sentence (shooting) of (…….) 24.00, date 3.3.1975 (date for example), the following measures are taken:

1-Reconciliation:

– for the place of execution.

– for the movement route, to the place of execution.

– for external security (at a distance) of the place of execution.

It is carried out by the head of the investigation and the deputy police chief.

2 – To send a police patrol, consisting of 3 policemen, to open the pit where the convict will be buried after the execution.

It is carried out by the deputy chief of police.

3 – For the execution of the decision, the following are appointed:

– the head of the investigation.

– deputy police chief for services.

– two policemen to accompany the convict.

– four policies for external remote insurance.

– a road inspector, who will ensure the patrol’s route to the place of execution.

– two cars driven by drivers (name last name) which will transport the officer and the convict to the place of execution.

It is carried out by the head of the investigation and the deputy police chief.

4 – Notify the district prosecutor and the coroner.

It is carried out by the head of the investigation and the deputy police chief.

5 – For the execution of the shooting, the officer responsible for the implementation of criminal decisions, non-commissioned officer (name, surname), is charged.

6 – The decision is communicated to the convicted person.

7 – After all the security measures are taken, the last word of the convict is heard and the execution is carried out by the non-commissioned officer.

8 – At the end, the minutes are drawn up on the execution of the decision. Memorie.al