photographed at a public place in Korça

Born on October 17, 1959, in Korçë, Tomi Kondakçi endured persecution for his dream of becoming a musician in a Western country. Together with a group of friends, he planned an escape from communist Albania along the route Korçë-Pogradec-Tushemisht- Ohër-Yugoslavia. However, his friends abandoned him at a location called the Pogradec Bunker and reported him to the State Security.

Tomi was arrested on April 1, 1980, and held in the Korçë interrogation facility for nearly 8 months, where he was subjected to physical torture to force a confession. Following his interrogation, a public trial was held at the Korçë Court, where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for “treason against the homeland in the form of attempted escape” and “agitation and propaganda.”

He served his sentence in the infamous Spaç and Qafë-Bari prison camps. Despite attempts by the State Security to coerce him into becoming a collaborator while in prison, Tomi refused, resulting in an additional two-year sentence.

Tomi Kondakçi was released on December 22, 1987, after serving 7 years and 8 months in prison.