46 The Unfinished Business of rT ansitional Justice: Reparation of oF rmer Political Prisoners in Post-Communist Albania Asked if they had forgiven their perpetrators, interviewees provide diverse replies. Three interviews state that they have forgiven their perpetrators, others that they will not forgive them unless perpetrators ask for forgiveness. Only one interviewee declared that he is not going to forgive his perpetrators no matter what. One cannot forgive someone who does not ask for forgiveness. No one asked for forgiveness, therefore, we cannot forgive them […] Firstly they should accept their crimes. What would calm our souls is the establishment of justice. We are not asking to take similar measures as they took against us, but the crimes of criminals during the communist regime must be punished. They should be punished to prevent repetition […] Failure to punish communist crimes is the failure to disassociate from communism. Social and Political Empowerment Based on the transitional justice literature the study tried to explore whether the reparation of political prisoners is also conditioned on societal acknowledgment and community acceptance. Does the recovery of victims depend on political factors including democratic transition and consolidation, and the establishment of the rule of law? The UN Basic Principles and Guidelines have concluded that “in a social and political climate where impunity prevails, the right to reparation for victims of gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms is likely to become illusory. It is hard to perceive that a system of justice that cares for the rights of victims can remain at the same time.” It believed that social acknowledgment may help victims to establish their humanity, dignity, and a sense of self, empowering and helping them to reconnect with the outside world.103 Most of the interviewees declared that the community around them know about their story. Additionally, some of the interviewees have given interviews or have written articles for the media about their stories and sufferings as political prisoners. Nevertheless, some of the interviewees express that citizens are indifferent to their sufferings and story. I have tried to tell [my story], but they (citizens) are not interested. This is why there is a need for a national apology and the past needs to be healed. And new generations should have the possibility to read about what communism was. They should learn that Enver Hoxha destroyed his relatives and prosecuted his teachers.104 Discussion on the rehabilitation of former political prisoners and other TJ measures has increasingly attracted attention in recent years in Albania. At this point studies are needed to assess the impact that societal acknowledgment will have on the overall rehabilitation of political prisoners. As many interviewees expressed, politics is extremely important for political prisoners, for their cause against the communist regime, particularly immediately after the fall of the regime. Many of them were given access and remained active in politics. Asked about reparation measures for political prisoners after the fall of the communist regime one interviewee declared “the 1992 – 1997 period is an unattainable stage for former political prisoners, there were more than 20 members of parliament coming from this category”.105 Additionally, the speaker of Parliament in this was a well-known former political prisoner, Pjeter Arbnori.106 Seven interviewees declared 103. Roman David, Susanne Choi Yuk-ping, ‘Victims on Transitional Justice: Lessons from the Reparation of Human Rights Abuses in the Czech Republic’ (2015) HRC 27 104. Angjelin Dabardaku 105. Reshat Kripa 106. Pjetër Arbnori (January 18, 1935 – July 8, 2006) was an Albanian gulag survivor. He was dubbed “the Mandela of the Balkans” by Albanian statesmen because of the length of his 28-year internment.