Azem Hajdari

Azem Hajdari (March 11, 1963 - September 12, 1998), was an Albanian politician who was assassinated in Tirana.

Personal history

A philosophy student at the University of Tirana, he was one of the main leaders of student demonstrations that brought the collapse of the Party of Labour of Albania in December 1990. He was also, briefly, the first leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, the first major opposition party. He remained in that position until replaced in early 1991 by Sali Berisha, who later became prime minister of Albania.

Hajdari was a close associate of Berisha and came from the same district of Tropojë.

His assassination in front of the headquarters of the Democratic Party in Tirana, then in opposition, triggered a two-day violent protest. Demonstrators took over the parliament, the government building and the national television before withdrawing. Berisha blamed the Socialist Party of Albania and its leaders for the murder, there were several demonstrations, some of them violent. No one was convicted of Hajdari's murder, although many people were eventually fingered as having participated in his assassination.

Five people, including Jaho Mulosmani, were sentenced for the murder by a Tirana district court in February 2002.

Hajdari was survived by his wife and two children. He was awarded a Martyr of Democracy posthumously.

Education

*1993 Graduated Philosophy Branch, University of Tirana
*1995 Graduated Jurisprudence, University of Tirana
*1993-1994 Studied English language and philosophy in the United States
*1996 Studied on policy of defense and security in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Political activity

*December 1990 - February 1991 - Leader of the students' movement which overthrew communism in Albania
*December 1990 - February 1991 - Chairman of the Leading Commission of the Democratic Party (the first opposition party after 50 years of totalitarian regime)
*February 1991 - September 1993 - Deputy-Chairman of the Democratic Party, Member of the Steering Committee.

Public service

In the four free elections after the collapse of communism, Hajdari has been elected a Member of Parliament.
*March 31, 1991 MP of Shkodër
*March 22, 1992 MP of Shijak
*May 26, 1996 MP of Bulqizë
*June 29, 1997 MP of Tropojë
*1992 - 1996 Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on the Public Order and the National Intelligence Service.
*1996 Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on the Public Order and the National Intelligence Service.
*November 1996 President of the United Independent Albanian Trade Unions.
*June 1997 Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Defense.

*From 1995 - on President of the Vllaznia Football Club, the first sports club in Albania, since the beginning of the century.
*President of the Albanian Federation of Martial arts.

ee also

* History of Albania
* Politics of Albania

External links

* [http://galeria.albasoul.com/album50/Sdra_001 Picture of Azem Hajdari]