# List of assassinations in Albania

This is a list of assassinations in Albania from the year 1913 to present day. Included in the list are public figures and other prominent individuals who were active in Albanian politics and daily life. Also included are assassinations that took place outside the present day borders of Albania. Not included are those who died as casualties of war or were killed by the State.

## Assassinations (1913–present)

| No. | Name of victim(s) | Highest position held | Date assassinated | Name of assassin(s) | Place of assassination | Suspected motive and description of the assassination |
| 1 | Hasan Rıza Pasha | General in the Ottoman-Albanian army of Scutari Vilayet | 31 January 1913 | Osman Bali, Mehmet Kavaja | A remote street near Rozafa Castle, Shkodër | Assailants were sent on the orders of Esad Toptani whose aim was to be the commander in charge of defending Shkodër from the invading Montenegrin forces. |
| 2 | Gjeto Çoku | Prefect of Lezhë | 7 October 1913 | Prenk Kol Brunga | Lezhë | Brunga was paid by the House of Prenk Bib Doda to eliminate the Prefect of Lezhë. Brunga, a paid guard in the Gendarmerie of Lezhë at the time, assassinated Gjeto Çoku at dusk as the Prefect was taking an evening stroll with Franz Nopcsa. |
| 3 | Lodewijk Thomson | Dutch military commander during the governance of Turhan Pasha. | 15 June 1914 | Unknown | Ura e Dajlanit, Durrës | Thomson made plenty of enemies during his short time of service in the country. The real motive of his murder has yet to be uncovered. |
| 4 | Nexhat Libohova | Minister of Finance | 26 May 1915 | Osman Bali | Shkallnur, Durrës | Political dispute with Esad Toptani. |
| 5 | Çerçiz Topulli | Commander of the Gjirokastër military band | 17 July 1915 | Montenegrin soldiers | Shtoji field, Golem, Shkodër | Revenge over the killing of the Greek bishop Photios in 1906. |
| 6 | Ded Gjo Luli | Leader of the Albanian revolt of 1911 | 24 September 1915 | Unknown | Sheshëz, Orosh | Killed for nationalist motives. |
| 7 | Isa Boletini | Leader of the uprising to liberate Albanian lands | 23 January 1916 | Pero Burič | Ribnica bridge, Podgorica, Montenegro | Killed to suppress the Albanian resistance. |
| 8 | Stath Melani | Orthodox priest | 24 December 1917 | Josif Soropulli, Josif Stërmbeci, Vangjel Radimishti | Balta e kuqe, Lipivan, Përmet | Melani was killed by a group of Greek nationalists for insisting on the use of the Albanian language in the local Orthodox liturgy. |
| 10 | Prenk Bib Doda | Deputy Prime Minister | 22 March 1919 | Prenk Gjeto Çoku | Zejmen, Lezhë | Bib Doda was killed in an ambush, while traveling from Durrës to Shëngjin in the company of British diplomat Eden, who was wounded. The motive was revenge for Bib Doda's ordering the assassination of Prenk Gjeto Çoku's father, Gjeto Çoku, the Prefect of Lezhë. |
| 11 | Xhelal Koprëncka | Signatory of the Albanian Declaration of Independence | 21 October 1919 | Syrja Guri | Dëllinjë, Qafa e Martës, Skrapar | Murdered for personal revenge. |
| 12 | Sali Nivica | Journalist, Director of newspaper "Populli" | 11 January 1920 | Kolë Ashiku | A street near the Post Office, Shkodër | Killed for personal reasons. |
| 13 | Abdyl Ypi | Prefect of Durrës | 15 January 1920 | Sulejman Haxhi | Durrës | Killed on the orders of Mustafa Kruja as one of the initiators of the Congress of Lushnjë. |
| 14 | Esad Toptani | Prime Minister | 13 June 1920 | Avni Rustemi | Paris, France | The murder was likely ordered by political rivals even though the widely accepted theory was treason. |
| 15 | Meleq Frashëri | General Commander of the Gendarmerie | 8 March 1922 | Unknown | Kodër-Kamëz, Tirana | Killed during clashes with the rebels against the government. |
| 16 | Enrico Tellini | Head of the International Commission to survey the disputed border between Greece and Albania | 27 August 1923 | Organized Greek band | Delvinaq, Zhepë, Greece | To prevent the defining of the new boundary in favor of Albania. |
| 17 | George B. De Long Robert L. Coleman | Real estate businessman Financier | 6 April 1924 | Local bandits | Ura e Përroit, Mamurras | The only conclusive motive for the murders was random burglary. |
| 18 | Avni Rustemi | Member of the Parliament | 20 April 1924 | Jusuf Reçi | Hoxha Tahsin St., Tirana | The motive of the assassination remains a mystery. |
| 19 | Azem Galica | Commander of a military band | 25 July 1924 | Yugoslavian forces | Galicë, Kosovo | Galica was killed by Yugoslav forces to suppress the movement against incorporating Kosovo into the newly formed state of Yugoslavia. |
| 20 | Elez Isufi | Commander of the Dibër Band | 30 December 1924 | Unknown assailants | Kazermat, Peshkopi | The murder of Isufi was widely seen as a treasonous act. |
| 21 | Luigj Gurakuqi | Served as Minister of Education two months prior. | 2 March 1925 | Balto Stamolla | Bari, Italy | Stamolla was a close relative of the Albanian Counsel in Bari, Çatin Saraçi. |
| 22 | Zija Dibra | Served as Minister of Public Works in the Evangjeli I Cabinet | 6 January 1925 | Unknown | Harizaj, Kavajë | Dibra was a fierce political opponent of prime minister Ahmet Zogu who came to power just two days after the assassination took place. |
| 23 | Bajram Curri | Served as Minister of War in 1921 | 29 March 1925 | Unidentified | By a cave in Dragobi, Tropojë | Killed by assailants who were sent on the orders of Hysen Kryeziu, at the time serving as the Prefect of Kosovo. |
| 24 | Osman Bali | Commander of the Presidential Guard | 5 September 1926 | Myslim Peza, Islam Leka | Near Ura e Tabakëve, Tirana | The killing was due to political revenge. |
| 25 | Isuf Dibra | Served as Minister of War in the Toptani Cabinet | 19 March 1927 | Unknown | Tirana | Murdered by his assistant under unknown circumstances. |
| 26 | Ceno Kryeziu | Minister of Albania in Prague | 14 October 1927 | Alqiviadh Bebi | Prague, Czechoslovakia | Killed for having collaborated with the Yugoslavs. The assassin was a close relative to Andon Beça, an ally of Shefqet Vërlaci. |
| 27 | Llesh Topallaj | Officer of the Republican Guard | 21 February 1931 | Ndok Gjeloshi, Azis Çami | Operngasse St., Vienna, Austria | The official motive that circulated in the media at the time was that the assailants were trying to assassinate Ahmet Zogu. |
| 28 | Mark Kapidani | Member of the Parliament | 19 December 1932 | Geg Marka Gega | Inside the Officers' Hall, near the Royal Palace, Tirana | The assassin was a former officer in the Army Reserve, once sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for his attempts to overthrow the government. |
| 29 | Bajazid Doda | Photographer, Personal Secretary of Baron Nopcsa | 25 April 1933 | Franz Nopcsa von Felső-Szilvás | Singerstrasse St., Vienna, Austria | Killed for personal reasons. |
| 30 | Hasan Prishtina | Former Prime Minister | 13 August 1933 | Ibrahim Çelo | Thessaloniki, Greece | The assassin was apparently a former acquaintance but motives of the assassination remain unclear. |
| 31 | Leon De Ghilardi | Officer of the Austro-Hungarian Army | 16 August 1933 | Xhevahir Arapi | Mulliri i Kashtës, Fier | Killed during the anti-government revolt. |
| 32 | Qazim Bodinaku | Served as Prefect of Vlorë and later Berat | 6 April 1939 | Unknown | Unknown | A Zog loyalist, he was murdered as he was trying to leave the country by 2 persons whom he had had a previous dispute with. |
| 33 | Daut Hoxha [sq] | Commander of the Chameria Band | 14 June 1940 | Sotir Demiri, Vangjel Pando, Dhimo Koçi, Kolo Sulioti, Sotir Vangjeli | Sheshi i Rrahut, Konispol | The victim had been sentenced to death by the Greek State because of his anti-Greek resurgence in the region. |
| 34 | Xhafer Ypi | Former Prime Minister | 17 December 1940 | Unknown | Unknown | Killed during aerial bombardments. |
| 35 | Sali Nijazi Dede | Dedebaba, Founder of the Bektashi Order | 28 November 1941 | Italian agents | Bektashi Headquarters, Tirana | Did not accept to sign the act of invasion by Fascist Italy. |
| 36 | Musa Puka | Prefect of Elbasan | 2 October 1942 | Unknown | Elbasan | Killed on a roadside by communist rebels. |
| 37 | Skënder Çami [sq] | Police Superintendent for Korçë | 4 March 1942 | Unknown | Unknown | The motives of the killing remain unknown. |
| 38 | Qemal Stafa | Leader of the Communist Youth | 5 May 1942 | A local policeman | Tirana | Stafa was killed in a house on the outskirts of Tirana by a local Carabinieri. Rumors say that he may have been betrayed by one or more of his comrades, possibly Enver Hoxha (the first secretary of the Albanian communist party & leader of Albania), because he gained much from his death. |
| 39 | Saverino Ricottini | Member of the Fascist Upper Council | 25 March 1943 | Unknown | Peja, Kosovo | The motives of the murder are unknown. |
| 40 | Qazim Koculi | Served as Acting Prime Minister | 2 January 1943 | Halil Alia | Vlorë | Murdered by the fascist mercenary battalion of Halil Alia for personal reasons. |
| 41 | Iljas Agushi [sq] | Deputy Prime Minister in the Merlika Cabinet | 27 October 1943 | Bujar Hoxha, Shahin Gjashta | Tirana | The motives of the assassination were due to Agushi's collaboration with the invading Nazi forces. |
| 42 | Hysen Myshketa [sq] | Member of the National Council | 8 October 1943 | Unknown | Durrës | Myshketa and his brother were murdered by three assassins as they were walking along the "Mussolini Boardwalk". |
| 43 | Idhomen Kosturi | Chairman of the National Council | 5 November 1943 | Kolë Laku | Tirana | Murdered under the orders of the Communist Guerrilla unit. |
| 44 | Aziz Çami | Military commander in the Vlora War | 15 December 1943 | Communist forces | Tirana | Murdered for being a member of the Balli Kombëtar. |
| 45 | Veli Vasjari | Chief of State Police | 12 May 1944 | Unknown | Korçë | Killed by communist partisans near the region of Gabravicë. |
| 46 | Mustafa Gjinishi | Board member of the National Liberation Council | 26 August 1944 | Unknown | Sllatinë, Dibër | His death occurred during mysterious circumstances as he traveled to northern Albania. |
| 47 | Lefter Kosova [sq] | Minister of Public Works under the Biçakçiu Cabinet | 6 September 1944 | Xhelal Staravecka | Tirana | Murdered because of a previous political dispute. |
| 48 | Mark Kodheli [sq] | Consul of Albania in Bari, Italy | 1944 | Unknown | | |
| 49 | Shaban Polluzha | Member of the Yugoslavian Parliament | 21 February 1945 | Yugoslavian soldiers | Tërstenik, Drenicë, Kosovo | He was killed for being an irredentist. |
| 50 | Miladin Popović | Head of the Communist Yugoslav Mission in Albania | 13 March 1945 | Haki Taha | Pristina, Kosovo | Popović mediated plans of keeping the territory of Kosovo under Serbian supervision. |
| 51 | Ndrecë Ndue Gjoka | Deputy chairman of the executive committee of Mirditë | 17 February 1946 | Members of the Mountains Committee | Qafë-Vorrëz, Kaçinar, Mirditë | Killed for spreading educational leaflets. |
| 52 | Mark Gjon Marku [sq] | Minister of Interior in the Bushati Cabinet | 14 June 1946 | Members of Armed Forces | Perlat Forest, Prosek, Mirditë | Killed for personal reasons. |
| 53 | Baba Faja Martaneshi | Deputy Leader of the National Liberation Front | 18 March 1947 | Dede Baba Abazi | Bektashi Headquarters, Tirana | Murdered due to political and religious differences. |
| 54 | Kostaq Kotta | Prime Minister | 1 September 1947 | Two prison guards | Burrel Prison | Murdered because he was considered a political enemy. |
| 55 | Nako Spiru | High ranking communist official in charge of the State Planning Commission | 20 November 1947 | Unknown | Tirana | The murder was officially ruled a suicide but he was most likely killed under the orders of Koçi Xoxe. |
| 56 | Josif Papamihali | Mission head of the Unity Church of Albania | 26 October 1948 | Labor camp guards | Maliq | He was considered an enemy of the state along with thirty-seven other priests. |
| 57 | Bardhok Biba | Member of the People's Assembly | 9 August 1949 | Unknown | Kaçinar, Lezhë | Killed by the anti-communist resistance guerrilla unit "Komiteti i Maleve". |
| 58 | Pal Mëlyshi [sq] | Agent of the Sigurimi | 12 April 1950 | Unknown | Ujë-Lurth, Mirditë | His suspicious death was considered accidental. |
| 59 | Alush Lleshanaku [pl] | Legislative Member of the Corporative Fascist Upper Council | 24 December 1950 | Ilo Stojko | Elbasan | A staunch anti-communist resistance leader, Lleshanaku was assassinated by an agent of the Sigurimi. |
| 60 | Sali Ormeni | Director of the Albanian State Police | 2 March 1951 | Unknown | Rrogozhinë | Killed mysteriously a week after the bombing of the Soviet Embassy. |
| 61 | Omer Nishani | Former Head of State | 26 May 1954 | Unknown | Tirana | His murder was officially ruled a suicide. |
| 62 | Teme Sejko | Commander of the Naval Fleet | 31 May 1961 | Qemal Birçe, Islam Gjondede | Maminas, Durrës | The perpetrators tied a rope around his neck and killed him for personal reasons. |
| 63 | Haxhi Hajdari [sq] | Member of the People's Assembly | 8 April 1963 | Unknown | Unknown | Denounced as the "People's Enemy" by the regime, he was killed by artillery gunfire. |
| 64 | Myslym Keta [sq] | Commander of the Tanks Regiment | 26 February 1966 | Unknown | Fushë-Arrëz | Keta was suspected to be an opponent of dictator Enver Hoxha. |
| 65 | Mehmet Shehu | Prime Minister | 17 December 1981 | Unknown | Tirana | The official death was ruled a suicide but Shehu was more than likely killed by the Sigurimi under Hoxha's orders. |
| 66 | Jusuf Gërvalla | Member of the Movement for Liberation of Kosovo | 17 January 1982 | Agents of the UDB | Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany | To suppress the Albanian nationalist movement in Kosovo. |
| 67 | Mustafa Band | Exiles | 27 September 1982 | Security Forces | Zhamë, Rrogozhinë | Prevented plot to assassinate dictator Enver Hoxha. |
| 68 | Jean Marie Massellin | French Employee Club Med Corfu | 18 Jun 1984 | Albanian Border Guards | Vrine, Butrinti | Killed by Albanian border guards for accidentally straying in Albanian territorial waters. |
| 69 | Aleksandër Kondo [sq] | National Weightlifting Champion | 1 May 1987 | Unknown | Gas station, New York | Likely assassination by Sigurimi agents to make it appear as an accident. |
| 70 | Josif Budo | Local worker | 10 July 1990 | Luan Allajbeu | Main street, Kavajë | Killed for being an opponent of the regime. |
| 71 | Artan Lenja | Wrestler | 24 February 1991 | Military patrol | Rruga "Ndre Mjeda", Tirana | Killed by a military patrol unit in charge of enforcing public order. |
| 72 | Arben Broci | Engineer at a cigarette factory | 2 April 1991 | Unknown | Shkodër | Killed by a sniper to suppress public disorder. |
| 73 | Gazmend Muça | Criminal | 7 April 1992 | Naim Zyberi, Franc Konomi | Xhamlliku, Tirana | Killed for personal reasons. |
| 74 | Remzi Hoxha | Businessman | 21 October 1995 | Responsible: Arben Sefgjini, Ilir Kumbaro, Avni Koldashi, Budion Meçe | Kunë-Vain, Lezhë | The speculative rumor was that Hoxha was a UDB agent. He died from the injuries sustained during his torture inside the SHIK facility. |
| 75 | Bujar Kaloshi | General Director of Prisons | 26 July 1996 | Unknown | Former aviation field, Tirana | Kaloshi's murder was likely influenced by his position as head of the prison system. |
| 76 | Ahmet Krasniqi [sq] | Kosovo's Minister of Defence | 21 September 1998 | Unknown | "Haxhi Dalliu" street, Tirana | The motives for his killing are not yet known. |
| 77 | Azem Hajdari | Member of the Assembly | 22 September 1998 | Fatmir Haklaj, Jaho Mulosmani, Naim Cangu | Tirana | The suspected motive for Hajdari's assassination was political revenge. |
| 78 | Kleanthi Koçi | Chief Justice of the Supreme Court | 21 February 1999 | Unknown | Near Tirana International Hotel | Motives for his killing have yet to be uncovered. |
| 79 | Arben Zylyftari [sq] | Police chief in Shkodër | 2 August 2000 | Bahri Tafili | Lagja "Udhakryq", Shkodër | Killed due to his position as chief of police. |
| 80 | Salih Tivari | General Secretary of the Muslim Community of Albania | 13 January 2002 | Unknown | Headquarters of the Muslim Community of Albania | Tivari had raised doubts about financial contributions coming from anonymous Muslim organizations. |
| 81 | Gani Malushi [sq] | Chief of Police in Fushë-Krujë | 6 August 2003 | Agim Pepa | Durrës | The actual target in the killing was Malushi's personal chauffeur. |
| 82 | Gramoz Palushi | Football fan | 4 September 2004 | Panajotis Kladhis | Island of Zakinthos, Greece | Killed because he celebrated the football victory of Albania over Greece. |
| 83 | Vajdin Lame | Businessman | 28 February 2005 | Unknown | Tirana | Lame was part owner of national television station Top Channel. He was killed from a bomb planted inside an elevator alongside his friend Artan Arsi. |
| 84 | Edmond Malollari | President of Tomori Berat football club | 14 December 2005 | Unknown | Tirana | The motive for the killing in broad daylight was likely because of unpaid debt. |
| 85 | Fatmir Xhindi [sq] | Member of the Assembly | 2 May 2009 | Unknown | Roskovec, Fier | Motives of his murder remain a mystery. |
| 86 | Fatos Xhani, Altin Dizdari, Sajmir Duçkallari, Kastriot Feskaj | State Police officers | 7 August 2009 | Dritan Dajti | Iliria beach, Durrës | The officers on duty were killed as Dajti was resisting arrest. |
| 87 | Remzi Veseli [sq] | Mayor of Tërthore Commune | 25 October 2010 | Unknown | Kukës | Motives for the killing remain unsolved. |
| 88 | Hekuran Deda, Faik Myrtaj, Ziver Veizi, Aleks Nika | Participants in an anti-government protest | 21 January 2011 | Ndrea Prendi, Agim Llupo | "Dëshmorët e Kombit" Boulevard, Tirana | Randomly killed to warn protesters from entering the Prime Minister's Office building. |
| 89 | Skerdilajd Konomi | Judge of the 1st Circuit Court in Vlorë | 9 September 2011 | Unknown | "Vlorë-Skelë" street, Vlorë | Motives for the killing have yet to be uncovered. |
| 90 | Arjan Selimi | Drug trafficker | 26 September 2011 | Unknown | Tirana | Selimi was the fiancé of television personality Inis Gjoni. His killing was a result of his past as a convicted drug trafficker. |
| 91 | Adem Tahiraj [sq] | Chief of Police in Shijak | 12 September 2012 | Ilir Xhakja | Katund-Sukth, Durrës | Shot and killed during an operation for the arrest of the suspect. |
| 92 | Dritan Lamaj | Chief of Commissariat No. 6 in Tirana | 25 February 2013 | Arben Frroku | Tirana | Frroku, a local businessman, had been physically assaulted by Lamaj a few months prior. |
| 93 | Artan Santo [sq] | Founder of Credins Bank | 26 June 2014 | Unknown | "Ibrahim Rugova" street, Tirana | Motives for his murder remain a mystery. |
| 94 | Ibrahim Basha | Officer of RENEA | 24 June 2015 | Unknown | Lazarat, Gjirokastër | Killed by sniper fire during a drug sting operation. |
| 95 | Artan Cuku | Police chief of Vlorë | 8 April 2017 | Mikel Shallari | Rruga e Kosovarëve, Tirana | Killed for work related revenge. |

## Murders by the numbers

Number of people murdered in Albania since 1990.