Abaz Ermenji, political activist and one of the founders and central figures of the National Front, passed away in Paris. He was born in the village of Ermenj in Tomorrica (Skrapar). He finished the gymnasium of Shkodra. With a scholarship from the Albanian state, he completed higher studies at the Faculty of Literature, specializing in history, at the University of Sorbonne (Paris). In 1938 he returned to Albania and was appointed a professor at the National (French) High School in Korça. Opposed to the fascist occupation, he was arrested by the Italians, and exiled (1940) to the island of Ventotene (Italy). In September 1941 he returned to Albania, where he continued his anti-fascist activity in the Skrapar-Berat area. Abaz Ermenji is one of the organizers of the National Front and a member of its Central Committee. He collaborated with S. Butka, H. Lepenica, S. Muço in several armed actions against the Italians. He participated in the Mukja Meeting (1943) and was elected to the National Salvation Committee. During the German occupation of Albania, he cooperated with the German forces in the operations against the Albanian National Liberation Army. After the liberation, for two years (1945-1946) he worked underground to overthrow the communist regime. In 1946, he left Albania and settled in Paris, where he headed the Democratic National Committee “Shqipëria e lirë”. After re-creating the National Front Party in Albania (1991), he was elected its chairman twice (1994, 1998). He published a series of articles in the newspaper “Flamuri” (Rome), “Balli i Kombit” (Tirana), etc. His most important study is “Vendi që zë Skënderbeu në historinë e Shqipërisë” (“The place that Skanderbeg holds in the history of Albania”)(Rome 1968, Tirana 1996). (In the photo: Abaz Ermenji)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 612.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abas_Ermenji
Graphic processing: AHCF
