Telat Agolli was born in Tirana, creator of the Albanian circus (1952), heavyweight weightlifting champion, People’s Artist, Merited Master of Sports. He attended the “Vojo Kushi” Institute of Physical Culture (today the “Vojo Kushi” Sports Academy) and a one-year qualification course for circus in China. As a weightlifter, in 22 years he has set 99 national records. In June 1976, they tied his hands and feet in Saranda, where he was on tour with the circus troupe, and brought him to Tirana prison. He was accused of being an agent and traitor in the service of the Yugoslav Secret Service. On May 18, 1977, the Court of Tirana sentenced him to 10 years in prison, confiscation of property, the removal of his work medal as well as the titles “People’s Artist” and “Deserved Artist” for “agitation and propaganda”. He partially served his sentence in Spaçi camp. He was released on October 28, 1982. He passed away in 2016. (In the photo: Telat Agolli)
Text: Encyclopedic dictionary of victims of communist terror – Vol. I , “West Print”, Institute for the Study of Crimes and Consequences of Communism, Tirana, 2012, page 82.
Photo: © https://www.spektrum.al/nderron-jete-telat-agolli-zadzizieri-i-cirkut-te-tiranes/
Graphic processing: AHCF
