photographed in a side alley in Tirana

Born on June 2, 1950, in the village of Bërzeshtë, Librazhd, Bedri Blloshmi was arrested in February 1976 as part of the so-called “Bërzeshtë Group,” along with poets Genc Leka and Vilson Blloshmi, his brother. Their trial began on June 6, 1977, with charges of “economic sabotage in collaboration” and “agitation and propaganda against the people’s power.” All three were initially sentenced to death.

One week later, on June 13, 1977, the Librazhd Court sentenced the two poets to execution, while Bedri’s sentence was commuted to 25 years in prison, confiscation of property, and the loss of electoral rights for 5 years.

Bedri served nearly 15 years of his sentence – 14 years, 11 months, and 26 days – across the infamous prisons of Spaç, Qafë-Bari, and Burrel. He was released on March 29, 1991. After his release, he worked as a police officer and lawyer and also served as the director of the Institute for the Integration of Politically Persecuted People for several months (September 2013–June 2014).

To date, Bedri Blloshmi has published over 12 books, featuring testimonies, archival documents, and accounts of resistance by former political prisoners, including the Spaç and Qafë-Bari prison revolts.