The first protest against the communist regime in Albania took place in Kavaja. The fall of the Berlin Wall and a series of radical political changes that took place in the years 1989-1990 in the Eastern Bloc also had an impact on the Albanian political life. This protest resulted from the previous day’s events, on March 25, 1990, at the “Besa” stadium, during the Besa-Partizani match, where many young people erupted in calls against the communist regime. Many young people were arrested during this protest. A large number of people addressed the police region with the cries of “Free our comrades!”, “Down with the Dictatorship!”, “Freedom, Democracy!”. This protest paved the way for new developments in the country. (In the photo: Moment from the anti-communist protest, 1990.)
Text: National History Museum
Photo: © Xhoxhi L., personal archive
Graphic processing: AHCF




