In Peshkopi, Elez Isufi passed away, a patriot and popular leader in the struggle for the defense of Albania’s national independence and territorial integrity, and for the democratization of the country’s life. He was born in Sllova, Dibra, in 1861. At the head of the patriotic forces of Dibra, he confronted the Serbian invaders in 1912. He supported the national government of Vlorë and opposed the separatist and divisive activities of Esat Pasha Toptani and his followers. He led the armed uprising, which erupted in the region of Dibra on August 15, 1920, for the liberation of Albanian state lands occupied by Yugoslav armed forces. Elez Isufi continued the struggle until December 1921, when the Serbs were finally forced to withdraw to the borders established in 1913. In the movement for the democratization of the country’s life in the years 1921–1924, Elez Isufi aligned himself with the progressive forces. He was among the organizers of the March Movement of 1922; the Dibra forces led by him reached Tirana and partially controlled it. He participated in the June 1924 Revolution and fought for the realization of the program of the democratic government led by Fan Noli. In the battle that took place in Peshkopi on December 16, 1924, against the forces of Ahmet Zog, he was severely wounded and died after 13 days. (In the photo; Elez Isufi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1053.
Photo: © https://diasporashqiptare.al/2020/08/08/elez-isuf-ndreu-gjenerali-me-shajak-qe-me-vite-nuk-iu-perkul-serbit/
Graphic processing: AHCF
