Researchers from Albania and abroad gathered in Tirana for an international scientific conference to examine the political persecution carried out by Albania’s former State Security service (Sigurimi) between 1944 and 1991. The event highlighted the importance of archival documents in studying the country’s communist past.
Opening the conference, AIDSSH Chair Gentiana Sula said Albania is entering a new phase of research. She stressed that archival records not only preserve historical memory but also provide a solid foundation for scientific research and place Albania’s experience within the broader European debate on secret police and totalitarian regimes.
During the conference, scholars presented new studies based on authentic archival documents. They examined the institutional development of the State Security service, its legal framework, surveillance methods, prisons, labor camps, and its extensive network of informants. Researchers concluded that many collaborators were recruited through intimidation, manipulation, and psychological pressure rather than ideological commitment.
A major highlight was the presentation of an interactive digital map of Tirana. Built from the analysis of thousands of archival documents, the map identifies surveillance sites, prisons, forced labor camps, internment locations, and unmarked burial sites. The project transforms archival records into a public tool for historical research, education, and remembrance.
Researchers also presented evidence showing that the State Security service relied on secret internal regulations rather than formal legislation. They argued that these practices conflicted with Albania’s constitution and laws of the time. Other studies documented the use of physical violence, psychological pressure, and manipulated testimony during political investigations, while also revealing that surveillance continued inside prisons and internment camps.
The conference will continue on June 30 with sessions on the psychological and social consequences of political persecution, transitional justice, and historical memory. Organizers also plan to establish the event as an annual international scientific symposium.
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