IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor): „Information on the storming of the Albanian embassy in Tirana in July 1990 and specific information on the group that first entered the compound [ALB17435.E]“, Dokument #1313613

Information on the storming of the Albanian embassy in Tirana in July 1990 and specific information on the group that first entered the compound [ALB17435.E]

There is no information currently available to the DIRB to indicate the political or other affiliation of those who first entered the Italian embassy compound in Tirana in early July 1990. Reports indicate that in late June 1990 the first wave of Albanian citizens began forcing their way into foreign embassies in the capital (The Globe and Mail 5 July 1990; ibid. 4 July 1990). One report describes how six Albanians in a truck battered down the gate of the Italian embassy compound, where about 20 Albanians had taken refuge by the evening of 3 July (ibid.).

Although the reports consulted do not refer to the involvement of any political group in the occupation of numerous embassies in Tirana in July 1990, they describe those involved in the initial phases of the occupations as "dissidents" and opponents of the government who were seeking "political asylum" (ibid.; ibid. 5 July 1990; La Presse 4 July 1990; Le Devoir
4 July 1990). On 4 July the Albanian government, described as "Eastern Europe's last hard-line Communist government" and an "orthodox communist bastion," indicated that it would issue 15,000 passports to enable "dissidents" to leave the country (ibid.; ibid. 5 July 1990; The Globe and Mail 4 July 1990; ibid. 5 July 1990).

By 12 July 1990 the total number of Albanian nationals seeking refuge in embassy compounds in Tirana had climbed to between 4,000 and 5,000, including slightly more than 800 who were in the Italian embassy and on its grounds (AFP 10 July 1990; Libération 11 July 1990; The Globe and Mail 12 July 1990). At this time Italy and Yugoslavia dispatched three ships to evacuate the approximately 3,000 Albanian nationals within the embassy compounds of Italy, West Germany and France (ibid.).

For additional information on the above-mentioned events, please refer to the attachments.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 10 July 1990. "Italy to Evacuate Embassy Refugees by Boat." (FBIS-EEU-90-133 11 July 1990, p. 2)

Le Devoir [Montréal]. 5 July 1990. "L'Albanie laisserait partir 15 000 dissidents."

. 4 July 1990. "L'Albanie en proie à une crise interne."

The Globe and Mail [Toronto]. 12 July 1990. "Ferry Sails for Albania to Collect Asylum-seekers." (NEXIS)

. 5 July 1990. "Dissidents Can Leave, Albania Says." (NEXIS)

. 4 July 1990. "Albanians Risk Bullets in Bid to Flee to the West." (NEXIS)

Libération [Paris]. 11 July 1990. Lorraine Millot. "Les réfugiés de Tirana vont prendre le large."

La Presse [Montréal]. 4 July 1990. "200 opposants albanais se réfugient dans des ambassades."

Attachments