Restricting the Right of Movement of Citizens in Albania During the Communist Regime

Abstract

The movement Albanian citizens, abroad and within the country, during the communist regime in Albania (1945-91) was limited to different forms. The right of movement was a fundamental right, but the communist regime, as we point out in this article for the first time, restricted it fully aware that it was violating a fundamental right of citizens. The right of the movement was not intentionally incorporated into the Constitution as a fundamental right, and later it lost even its status in legal act level and was left subject to government directives. The article reveals also the conflict within government leaders themselves, who acknowledged that the restriction of movement was an abuse of a fundamental right of citizens, but ultimately agreed on the adoption of arbitrary directives.

Keywords: Albania, communist regime, movement, restrictions.