Albania: Treatment of Legality Party members/supporters by the current Socialist government/authorities, particularly in Elbasan district
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 20 January 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ALB33510.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Albania: Treatment of Legality Party members/supporters by the current Socialist government/authorities, particularly in Elbasan district, 20 January 2000, ALB33510.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad3c23.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reports on the treatment of Legality Party (Legality Movement Party, PLL) members and supporters are scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Several sources report that Legality Party leader Ekrem Spahia (Ekrem Spahiu, Eqerem Spahia) was arrested on 24 September 1998 on charges of carrying out violent acts against state institutions (ATA 25 Sept. 1998; DPA 3 Oct. 1999; AlbaNews 4 Oct. 1999; ibid. 10 Mar. 1999). According to a Tirana police department spokesman, on 14 September 1998 Spahia led a group of opposition activists into the Albanian Radio-Television offices and broadcast messages without the legal right to do so (ATA 25 Sept. 1998; DPA 3 Oct. 1999). In March 1999 Spahia and 12 other opposition activists went on trial for participation in an armed uprising, charges which reportedly carry a maximum life sentence (ibid.). Opposition parties including the Legality Party have denounced the charges as being groundless and politically motivated (ibid.; AlbaNews 10 Mar. 1999; ibid. 4 Oct. 1999). In late September 1999 Spahia joined the other defendants in a hunger strike to protest the charges and their conditions in detention (ibid.). According to the report the prisoners "are not allowed to meet with anyone, not even with their families or their lawyers. They have not been allowed to get clean clothes to change and not allowed to get out in fresh air" (ibid.).
Information on the treatment of Legality Party members in Elbasan District, or on members other than Ekrem Spahia, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. For additional information on the treatment of Legality Party members, please consult ALB31248.E of 12 February 1999.
According to a press release from the Free Speech Forum posted to the Albanian Press Watch (APW) Website, more than ten opposition supporters were killed in 1998 by policemen or "unidentified persons" (16 Sept. 1998). The same document states that the government has done little to bring to trial those responsible for the murders of opposition leaders and supporters, and has pursued political trials against opposition leaders and supporters (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Albanian News and Information Network (AlbaNews). 4 October 1999.
_____. 10 March 1999.
Albanian Press Watch (APW). 16 September 1998. Luigj Gurakuqi. "SOS for Democracy in Albania: Government Fighting Against Opposition and Free Speech Activists."
Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). 25 September 1998. "Police Arrest Legality Party Leader for Seizing TV Station." (BBC Summary 28 Sept. 1998/NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 3 October 1999. BC Cycle. "Albanian Opposition Militants on Hunger Strike." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Albania country file.
IRB databases.
Research Directorate Albania country file.
World News Connection (WNC).
Internet sites including:
Albania Online.
Albanian Daily News.
Albanian Helsinki Forum.
Albanian Press Watch (APW).
Albanian Resource Centre.
Amnesty International.
British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG).
Central Europe Online.
Centre for Civil Society International (CCSI).
Country Reports 1998. 1999.
Democratic Party of Albania (DPA).
ENTER News Agency.
Human Rights Watch (HRW).
International Crisis Group (ICG) South Balkan Project.
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR).
International League for Human Rights (ILHR).
Political Parties, Interest Groups and other Movements.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Slavic Research Centre.
Transitions.
Volmirdo News.
The Washington Post.