Avni Rrustemi
Encyclopedia
Avni Rustemi was an Albanian, teacher
, activist and member of the Albanian parliament. Rustemi was the leader of the democratic organisation "Bashkimi", and member of the democratic opposition in the Albanian National Assembly preceding the Revolution of June 1924.
and later in San Demetrio Corone
(Italy
) – a town populated with arberesh. He graduated at the University of Rome La Sapienza
with a major as a middle school teacher. He started his teaching career at his birthplace, Libohovë (in 1910), in Tragjas
of Vlorë
(1913), Tepelenë
(1916–1917) and Vlorë
(1917–1918).
Grown and educated in a patriotic environment, Avni Rrustemi was known as a freedom fighter for the independence of Albania. In 1908, only 13 years old, he abandoned school to join the guerrilla group of Çerçiz Topulli
and in 1910 he attempted the assassination of the Ottoman
army general of expedition, Shefqet Turgut Pasha in Shkodër
. In 1914 he joined the expeditionary forces of Southern Albania against the Greek occupation forces during the Occupation of Albania (1912–1913). In 1918, with his initiative, a patriotic organisation known as The Youth of Vlorë was formed in Vlorë. As the president of the organisation, on November 28, 1918 Rustemi organised a demonstration against Italian occupation forces. In the spring of 1919 in San Demetrio Corone, he formed the League of the Albanian Youth for the defence of the Albanians Nation.
. Essad Pasha, a political figure in Albania but in exile, had already managed a coup d'etat
to overthrow Wilhelm of Wied, the then Prince of Albania. Although living in Paris and away from legislative governing of Albania, Essad Pasha claimed to still be the ruler of the state and attempted to represent Albania in the Paris Peace Conference
. The governmental delegation didn't permit him to do so as they were going to represent Albania themselves. The assassination was largely seen as a heroic act as it has historically been seen as a signal of a new bourgeois revolution against the feudal traditions of Albania and a crossing bridge in the newly democratic-bourgeois values.
Upon his return in Albania, in December 1920, Rustemi worked towards uniting all the democratic organisations there. A congress held in Vlora on April 25, 1921 lead to the new formation "Atdheu" (en. Fatherland). Avni Rrustemi was chosen as honorary president. His further initiatives resulted in new creations of professional teachers' associations. After "Atdheu" was shut down, in August 1922, again with his initiative, the democratic national organisation "Bashkimi" (en. Unity) was created on October 13, 1922 in Tirana
.
of Kosovo
. He bravely criticized the bureaucratic
system of that time and the ignorance of the governing classes while fiercely defending traditional values and the human rights of the Albanians living in ethnic Albania.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, activist and member of the Albanian parliament. Rustemi was the leader of the democratic organisation "Bashkimi", and member of the democratic opposition in the Albanian National Assembly preceding the Revolution of June 1924.
Early life
Rustemi was born in Libohovë, in a family of patriotic values. He followed the primary education in his homeland, continuing with high-school in ElbasanElbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
and later in San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone
San Demetrio Corone is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It is notable for the Collegio of Sant'Adriano, a boarding school which produced many patriots and theorists/revolutionaries in the Italian Independence wars-Geography:The village is...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) – a town populated with arberesh. He graduated at the University of Rome La Sapienza
University of Rome La Sapienza
The Sapienza University of Rome, officially Sapienza – Università di Roma, formerly known as Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", is a coeducational, autonomous state university in Rome, Italy...
with a major as a middle school teacher. He started his teaching career at his birthplace, Libohovë (in 1910), in Tragjas
Tragjas
Tragjas is a community in the Vlorë District, Vlorë County, southwestern Albania.-World War II:During World War II Tragjas was part of the battlefield of the battle of Gjorm, where Albanian resistance units defeated and routed the troops of the Kingdom of Italy....
of Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
(1913), Tepelenë
Tepelenë (town)
Tepelenë is the principal settlement in the eponymous Tepelenë District of southern Albania. It is located on the left bank of the Vjosë river, about three kilometres downstream from its union with the Drino....
(1916–1917) and Vlorë
Vlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
(1917–1918).
Grown and educated in a patriotic environment, Avni Rrustemi was known as a freedom fighter for the independence of Albania. In 1908, only 13 years old, he abandoned school to join the guerrilla group of Çerçiz Topulli
Çerçiz Topulli
Çerçiz Topulli was an Albanian Renaissance armed fighter, writer, and patriot, and is a People's Hero of Albania. He was the younger brother of Bajo Topulli....
and in 1910 he attempted the assassination of the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army general of expedition, Shefqet Turgut Pasha in Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
. In 1914 he joined the expeditionary forces of Southern Albania against the Greek occupation forces during the Occupation of Albania (1912–1913). In 1918, with his initiative, a patriotic organisation known as The Youth of Vlorë was formed in Vlorë. As the president of the organisation, on November 28, 1918 Rustemi organised a demonstration against Italian occupation forces. In the spring of 1919 in San Demetrio Corone, he formed the League of the Albanian Youth for the defence of the Albanians Nation.
Essad Pasha assassination
On June 13, 1920, he assassinated Essad Pasha in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Essad Pasha, a political figure in Albania but in exile, had already managed a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
to overthrow Wilhelm of Wied, the then Prince of Albania. Although living in Paris and away from legislative governing of Albania, Essad Pasha claimed to still be the ruler of the state and attempted to represent Albania in the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
. The governmental delegation didn't permit him to do so as they were going to represent Albania themselves. The assassination was largely seen as a heroic act as it has historically been seen as a signal of a new bourgeois revolution against the feudal traditions of Albania and a crossing bridge in the newly democratic-bourgeois values.
Upon his return in Albania, in December 1920, Rustemi worked towards uniting all the democratic organisations there. A congress held in Vlora on April 25, 1921 lead to the new formation "Atdheu" (en. Fatherland). Avni Rrustemi was chosen as honorary president. His further initiatives resulted in new creations of professional teachers' associations. After "Atdheu" was shut down, in August 1922, again with his initiative, the democratic national organisation "Bashkimi" (en. Unity) was created on October 13, 1922 in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
.
Ideology
Avni Rrustemi was an eminent democratic ideologist. His ideology, expressed through different forms of speeches and journalism, became a strong weapon for the democratic Albanian youth. In his speeches he claimed that when the government does not fulfill the needs of the people, then this need must be fulfilled with the organised interest of people to push government to do so. For the solution to the country's crisis, Avni Rrustemi pointed at the development of the independent national economy. He is quoted saying that without an independent economy, there can be no independent politics. His ideology was further enforced in the National Assembly of 1924, where he was chosen as a deputy of the people from ex-prefecturePrefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. He bravely criticized the bureaucratic
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
system of that time and the ignorance of the governing classes while fiercely defending traditional values and the human rights of the Albanians living in ethnic Albania.