44 The Unfinished Business of rT ansitional Justice: Reparation of oF rmer Political Prisoners in Post-Communist Albania Access to Sigurimi Files The establishment of truth is important to political prisoners. For years they have been advocating for transparency over Sigurimi files, considering it as a basic human right.88 On other hand there is relation between the establishment of truth and reparation. Under UN Basic Principles and Guidelines ‘verification of the facts and full and public disclosure of the truth’ is asserted as a form of reparation under satisfaction. After the fall of the communist regime, the files of Sigurimi remained secret and were used politically by those who took the power to control and blackmail.89 Therefore, this affected the other TJ components such as breaking with former regime (de-communization), accountability, and reparation and acknowledgment of former political prisoners. With the establishment of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Files90 (Authority for Files) in 2015, political prisoners could finally request a copy of their prosecution file compiled by Sigurimi. The majority of the interviewees declared that they have already requested and received their files. The opportunity to have access to files have played an important role in enhancing the psychological reparation and inner healing of political prisoners. Through the file, they have been able to verify the details of their persecution and prosecution by Sigurimi. On the other hand, the file serves to them as proof of the sufferings caused by the communist regime.91 Fortunately, after the adoption of the law, I made a request and collected my file. There I learned the people who denounced me. Because during the trial in that time denouncers were not shown only the witnesses. However, witnesses are just fake they tell only the things you spoke with your friends, denouncers. When I got my file, I was surprised to see people close to me and close friends. It was amazed, I have also the names but have not been able to go and tell them, I am reluctant because I had never thought.92 Other perception studies have concluded that the majority of the public is not interested on the files of Sigurimi, questioning their public acknowledgement.93 Apology and Forgiveness There is an obligation to provide acknowledgment to victims through reparations, and apology is recognized as a form of reparation. UN Basic Principles and Guidelines affirm public apology, including acknowledgment of the facts and acceptance of responsibility as a form of reparation under satisfaction.94 As a form of symbolic reparation, an apology is a formal, solemn and, in most cases, public acknowledgement that human rights violations were committed in the past, that they caused serious and often irreparable harm to victims, and that the state, group, or individual 88. Ilirian Agolli, ‘Avokati i Popullit kërkon hapjen e dosjeve të Sigurimit’ Voice of America (Tirana, 24 February 2014) < https://www. zeriamerikes.com/a/igli-totozani-hapja-e-dosjeve/1857210.html> accessed 12 October 2019 89. In 1994 when some political prisoners enter a hunger strike, the government of the time published a list arguing to be based on the files of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, listing those part of hunger strike as collaborators of Sigurimi. 90. Authority for Information on Former State Security Files < http://autoritetidosjeve.gov.al/> accessed 3 October 2019 91. Several political prisoners have used the materials found in their file in the books they have written as tangible proof of their resistance to the regime and regime’s brutal methods to suppress them. (Reshat Kripa, Ylber Merdani, Urim Elezi, Uran Kostreci) 92. Gjeto Vucaj 93. In a perception study out of 995 respondents only 37% of respondents indicate that they are interested in this topic. Over half of respondents (55%) state that they have simply never been interested in the files, and are still not interested today, while 8% state that they were interested in the past, but no longer are. See further: Institute for Development Research and Alternatives, Citizens’ understanding and perceptions of the Communist past in Albania and expectations for the future (2015) < https://www.osce.org/ albania/286821?download=true> accessed November 2019 94. Thirteen interviewees had collected their file from Authority of Files, six expressed that they are not interested in the file and one is in the process.