Ali bey Këlcyra, political activist, one of the main figures of Balli Kombëtar (National Front), was born in Këlcyra (Përmet). He began his law studies in Istanbul and finished in Rome (1919). He participated in the Lushnja Congress (1920) and was one of the political organizers of the Vlora War (1920). During 1921-1924, he was a deputy of the People’s Party. In his speeches, he spoke out against Ahmet Zogu’s government. In the elections of November 1923, the anti-Zogists of Gjirokastra who supported Ali Këlcyra, won 8 seats in the Parliament and in March 1924 they voted against the government of Shefqet Vërlaci. In 1925, he left Albania. In exile, he participated in the organization “Bashkimi Kombëtar” (National Union). He was sentenced to death in absentia by Ahmet Zogu’s regime. In 1938 he was closely connected with Mustafa Kruja’s Zara group and supported Italy’s plan to invade Albania. He was one of the founders and main leaders of the “Balli Kombëtar” (National Front) organization. In the period of the German occupation of the country, as one of the leaders of Balli Kombëtar , he entered into cooperation with the German Nazis and engaged in combat operations against the Albanian National Liberation Army and the areas liberated from it. On the eve of the country’s liberation, he left for Italy. After the death of Mithat Frashëri, he tried to keep Balli Kombëtar united, which had begun to split into numerous factions. He was decorated with the “Gjergj Kastrioti – Skenderbeu” Order. (In the photo: Ali bey Khelcyra)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1153.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_K%C3%ABlcyra
Graphic processing: AHCF
