Memorie.al / The 8th Branch of the First Directorate of State Security was the most important branch of this body. It was called; “The Branch of Counter-Revolutionary Groups” and its work objective was “the enemy of the people” and accusations of crimes against the state, also sanctioned in the Penal Code. “Enemy of the people” included those who were classified as “overthrown classes,” “reactionaries,” etc.: of Ballist or Legality origin, former high officials and functionaries of Albanian governments before 1944, former merchants, former owners, etc.
A specific category was also those called “kulaks,” which were otherwise known as “village capitalists,” the best families in those areas. After the agrarian reform carried out by the communists in 1945, based on the principle; “the land belongs to the one who works it,” owners who worked their own land were left with 5 hectares.
From this category also emerged the class that was called “kulaks” (the word came from Russian and meant “fist,” i.e., giving a punch). If the average peasant was taxed 10%, these were taxed 25% or more. This unjust method did not aim for agricultural production, but for striking and impoverishing this stratum.
The declaration of being a “kulak” was made by decision of the committees of the Communist Party (later the Party of Labor). Only these could remove the title of kulak. In addition to exhausting this stratum, among the most hardworking in the country, the regime also imprisoned and mistreated them.
The 8th Branch of the First Directorate of State Security was constantly dealing with kulaks, keeping them under strict control and surveillance at all times.
Even after 1967, when agricultural land was collectivized and consequently there could no longer be kulaks, they continued to be treated as such, in the political sense, as a special category, being considered opponents of the communist regime.
In 1978, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Feçor Shehu, approved the plan that aimed to study their activity, to deliver blows as the case may be. It was noted that importance was given to the historical character and the data collected.
TOP SECRET ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR THE STUDY OF THE HOSTILE ACTIVITY OF THE KULAK ELEMENT AND THE COUNTERACTION OF STATE SECURITY BODIES AGAINST THEM
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA – TOP SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS – Exemplar no. 1
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS – Tirana, 28.7.1978
FEÇOR SHEHU
PLAN – OF TASKS
On the study of the hostile activity of the kulak element and the counteraction of State Security bodies for its discovery and striking during the period from liberation until today.
According to the plan approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, related to studies during 1978, it is foreseen that a study on the hostile activity of the kulak element will also be done, led by the 8th Branch of the First Directorate.
1-In implementation of this task, in June 1976 a group was appointed for the preparation of this material, composed of comrades:
1 – Mehdi Bushati, head of the 8th Branch
2 – Ramadan Sançolli, deputy head of the 8th Branch
3 – Enver Zeneli, deputy head of the Fier Branch of Internal Affairs
4 – Luan Gjonçaj, deputy head of the Elbasan Branch of Internal Affairs
5 – Belul Zoto, direction officer of the 8th Branch
6 – Josif Basha, direction officer of the 8th Branch
7 – Luan Bega, direction officer of the 8th Branch
8 – Mark Deda, section chief of the Shkodra Branch
Carried out by Mehdi Bushati until June 25, 1978
2 – After some tasks were given regarding a preliminary study of the hostile activity of the kulaks in some main districts, where they had exercised this activity more, and the archival materials that exist for them in the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were specified, it was decided to discuss in the future, for the concretization of the topic and the determination of the form in which this material should be worked on.
All comrades carry it out
Mehdi Bushati, Ramadan Sançolli check
3 – On 15.5.1978, according to the planned schedule, the appointed group met and after specifying the periods and the method of treatment, it determined these concrete tasks:
a – The introduction of the material and the 30-year judicial statistics, etc., of the kulaks, to be prepared by the direction officer Luan Bega (until September 4 and continuing).
b – The hostile activity of the kulak from the post-liberation period up to 1949 will be addressed by comrades: M. Bushati, Enver Zeneli, and Josif Basha (who will also determine the issues to be addressed for this period). This task will be carried out until 4.9.1978.
c – The period 1950-1960 will be prepared by comrades Luan Gjonçaj and Belul Zoto (who will also prepare the issues that will be created during this stage). This task will be carried out until 4.9.1978.
M. Bushati, R. Sançolli check
ç – The third and final period will be addressed by comrades Ramadan Sançolli and Mark Deda (who will also address the main issues that arise during this period). This task will be carried out until 4.9.1978.
M. Bushati, R. Sançolli check
4 – On 4.9.1978, the group will meet to see the status of the material, to discuss debate and consult on the problems that arise, the remarks and tasks for the improvement of the study, according to the divided parts. Each group will report on its achievements, according to the assigned task, and will define other objectives for the improvement and deepening of the material.
M. Bushati, R. Sançolli check
5 – On 1.11.1978, the group, with the participation of the comrades from the Studies Branch, will meet to review the materials prepared according to the specified stages and the charged cadres, and after the remarks made in this regard, the material will finally be handed over to the 8th Branch of the First Directorate, until November 15, 1978.
All assigned cadres carry it out
M. Bushati, R. Sançolli check
6 – Each cadre should take all measures in time for the realization of this task assigned by the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the First Directorate of Security, and approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs, so that it turns out as well as possible and serves the adventurers for raising their vigilance and politico-operative level, in the fight against hostile and malicious activity also with this dangerous hostile category, the consequences on its counter-revolutionary path.
7 – All participating cadres must be acquainted with the tasks, objectives, and deadlines set in this plan, against their signature. / Memorie.al
Head of the 8th Branch
Mehdi Bushati
