One of the most cruel dictators towards the people/ 35 years since the overthrow of the bust of dictator Enver Hoxha

2026-02-20 08:24:00, Aktualitet CNA

One of the most cruel dictators towards the people/ 35 years since the overthrow

Like today, 35 years ago, the statue of dictator Enver Hoxha was toppled, who had ruled the Albanian people for 50 years, to remain in history as one of the most brutal dictators towards his people in the history of Europe.

On February 20, 1991, the people of Tirana and all of Albania gathered in "Skënderbej" Square to topple the statue of dictator Enver Hoxha.

This event came after important political developments that had occurred in December 1990 when, through student protests followed by protests by the majority of Albanians, the communist system was overthrown.

The proclamation of political pluralism, in December 1990, was followed by the establishment of political parties, which were preparing to enter the race for the first pluralistic elections in Albania, after the 45-year rule of the communist dictatorship.

The days of December '90 and the first months of 1991 were filled with very important events. The Democratic Party began its mass activism with a rally in the Student City Square on December 23, 1990. Within a few days, a group of 393 prisoners for political reasons were released from prison.

The People's Assembly issued a decree on January 23, 1991 that provided for the respect and protection of monuments related to national history and state symbols, which included the bust of Enver Hoxha.

According to the decree, any citizen who violated cultural monuments, as they called the busts of prominent figures, from Skanderbeg to Enver Hoxha, was sentenced to 6 months to three years in prison.

But that didn't stop thousands of students and citizens from rising up to tear down the symbol of communism, the bust of Enver Hoxha./ CNA