In this building, the former Soviet embassy, on February 19, 1951, a small amount of dynamite was thrown. Under this pretext, hundreds of innocent citizens were arrested and sentenced. Twenty-two of them, distinguished intellectuals, by decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the PPSh (Labor Party of Albania), were executed without trial at midnight on February 26–27, 1951.
The Victims
The names listed below the text are the 22 individuals who were executed:
Sabiha Kasimati, Jonuz Kaceli, Tefik Shehu, Anton Delhysa, Pjetër Guraziu, Manush Peshkëpia, Gafur Jegeni, Reiz Selfo, Myftar Jegeni, Qemal Kasoruho, Zyhdi Herri, Gjon Temali, Haki Kodra, Niko Lezo, Petro Konomi, Thoma Katundi, Pandeli Nova, Ali Qorraliu, Mehmet Shkupi, Hekuran Troka, Fadil Dizdari, Lluka Rashković
This event is known as the 1951 bombing of the Soviet embassy in Tirana. While the explosion caused very little physical damage (mostly broken windows) and no casualties, the communist government used it as a justification to eliminate "enemies of the state."
Most notably, Sabiha Kasimati (the first name on the list) was a prominent scientist and the only woman among those executed. All victims were later declared innocent and "Martyrs of Democracy" after the fall of communism in Albania.
