In Rome (Italy), Ali bey Këlcyra, a political activist, one of the main figures of the National Front, passed away. He was born in Këlcyrë (Përmet), in 1891. He began his higher studies in law in Istanbul and finished them in Rome (1919). He participated in the Lushnja Congress (1920) and was one of the political organizers of the Vlora War (1920). During the years 1921-1924, he was a deputy of the People’s Party. In his speeches, he spoke out against Ahmet Zog’s government. In the November 1923 elections, the anti-Zogists of Gjirokastra, who supported Ali Këlcyra, won 8 seats in the parliament and voted against Shefqet Vërlac’s government in March 1924. In 1925, he left Albania. In exile, he participated in the organization “Bashkimi Kombëtar“ (“National Unity”). He was sentenced to death in absentia by Ahmet Zog’s regime. In 1938 he was closely connected with Mustafa Kruja’s Zara group and supported Italy’s plan for the invasion of Albania. He was one of the founders and main leaders of the Balli Kombëtar organization. In the period of the German occupation of the country, as one of the leaders of the National Front, he entered into cooperation with the German Nazis and engaged in combat operations against the Albanian National Liberation Army and the areas liberated from it. On the eve of the country’s liberation, he left for Italy. After the death of Mithat Frashëri, he tried to keep the Balli Kombëtar united, which had begun to split into numerous factions. It was decorated with the “Gjergj Kastrioti – Skanderbeg” order. (In the photo: Ali bey Khelcyra)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1153.
Graphic processing: AHCF
