The society “Bashkimi” (“Unity”) (1922-1925), a political and social organization, was founded. It was founded on the initiative of Avni Rustemi, who was elected its chairman and gathered democratic patriots, especially from the ranks of progressive intellectual youth. It was the largest and most progressive organization during 1922–1924. It acted on the basis of its own charter and program. The program of the society “Bashkimi” envisaged democratic reforms. From October 1922 to spring 1924 there were 3 branches (in Tirana, Vlora and Durrës), which helped to revive and organize the anti-feudal democratic movement. After the murder of Avni Rustemi, in April 1924, the association “Bashkimi” called for the organization of an armed uprising. Its members, included in the “Bashkimi” battalion, took an active part in the Democratic Revolution of June 1924. On June 16, 1924, the leaders of the “Bashkimi” society asked the government of Fan Noli to include a series of democratic reforms in its program. After the victory of the Revolution, branches of the society were created in all the cities and in some villages of the country, which organized and directed the popular movement for the implementation of the government’s program. In July 1924, the society issued its own organ, the newspaper “Bashkimi”. The “Bashkimi” society fought for the protection of the victories of the revolution. (In the photo: Founder of the company, Avni Rustemi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2507.
Photo: © https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avni_Rustemi_%28portret_2%29.jpg
Graphic processing: AHCF
