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The bullet of April 20, 1924, the end of Avni Rustemi

2026-04-20 19:25:00, Kulturë Aleksandër Cangonja

The events leading up to the assassination of Avni Rustemi in April 1924 constitute one of the most controversial episodes in Albanian political history at the beginning of the 20th century. According to contemporary data and supported by the studies of Kastriot Dervishi, the developments leading up to the assassination shed light on the tense political climate of that period.

On March 25, 1924, Rustemi, accompanied by Anastas Pandele, approached the American legation in Tirana to request a three-month visa, claiming that he would provide income for the “Bashkimi” society. His behavior at the legation was considered problematic and, in communications with Washington, the fact that he had defended Lenin’s figure in the Constituent Assembly was also mentioned. As a result, the visa request was denied.

A few weeks later, on April 20, 1924, at around 5:00 PM, Rustemi was in Tirana, initially in the company of Reshat Këlliçi near the old mosque, and then headed towards the house of the Minister of Education, Fahri Gjilani. Along the way, in the area known as the Pasha Cemetery (where his bust is today), he met Mit'hat Deliu and Hoxha Kadriu.

According to contemporary accounts, while Rustemi was talking privately with Hoxha Kadri, he was suddenly shot from behind by a person who passed by the cemetery wall. The perpetrator of the assassination was 61-year-old miller Jusuf Reçi, who shot him with a single bullet and immediately fled. Seriously wounded, Rustemi reacted by pulling out his revolver and firing several times at the assassin, but without hitting him. He then sought medical help from his friends who surrounded him.

After a two-day stay in the Tirana hospital, Rustem passed away on April 22, 1924, marking a key moment in the country's political developments.

His figure remains complex and often contradictory. As highlighted in the analyses supported by Kastriot Dervishi, Rustemi's political path included involvement in violent political acts and attempts to eliminate opponents, including the assassinations of Ahmet Zogu and Mufit Libohova. In this context, he is seen as a figure who represented a political model influenced by the radical currents of the time, between fascism and communism, with a declared admiration for Lenin.

The symbolism of his figure was reflected even later: his name was given to one of Tirana's main squares during the Italian occupation in 1939, while the bust was placed during the communist period, in 1954, thus making him a figure appropriated by different regimes.

In a later critical assessment, Eqrem Vlora described Rustem in two strong words as “political scoundrel,” a designation that reflects the ongoing debates over his role and legacy in Albanian history.