| Agency name | Directorate of State Security |
|---|---|
| Nativename | Drejtoria e Sigurimit të Shtetit |
| Seal | Coat of arms of the People's Republic of Albania.png |
| Seal width | 200px |
| Seal caption | Sigurimi |
| Formed | 20 March 1943 |
| Dissolved | 12 July 1991 |
| Preceding1 | SHISH |
| Headquarters | Tirana, Socialist Albania |
| Country of origin | |
| Parent agency | Socialist Albanian Governement |
The organization ceased to exist in name in July 1991 and was replaced by the National Informative Service (SHIK). In early 1992, information on the organization, responsibilities, and functions of the SHIK was not available in Western publications. Some Western observers believed, however, that many of the officers and leaders of the SHIK had served in the Sigurimi and that the basic structures of the two organizations were similar.
The activities of the Sigurimi were directed more toward political and ideological opposition than crimes against persons or property, unless the latter were sufficiently serious and widespread to threaten the regime. Its activities permeated Albanian society to the extent that every third citizen had either served time in labor camps or been interrogated by Sigurimi officers. Sigurimi personnel were generally career volunteers, recommended by loyal party members and subjected to careful political and psychological screening before they were selected to join the service. They had an elite status and enjoyed many privileges designed to maintain their reliability and dedication to the party.
Created with special and strong support from Yugoslav Secret Services, represented by Miladin Popovic and Dusan Mugosha. The two Yugoslav Intelligence members also played a strong role in creation of the Communist Party of Albania, and took special care of erasing the National Liberation part of the Antifascist movement. Albania remained under the heaviest communist dictatorship in Europe, as a result of Yugoslav Intelligence involvement.
It was further organized into sections covering political control, censorship, public records, prison camps, internal security troops, physical security, counterespionage, and foreign intelligence.
The political control section's primary function was monitoring the ideological correctness of party members and other citizens. It was responsible for purging the party, government, military, and its own apparatus of individuals closely associated with Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, or China after Albania broke from successive alliances with each of those countries. One estimate indicated that at least 170 communist party Politburo or Central Committee members were executed as a result of the Sigurimi's investigations. The political control section was also involved in an extensive program of monitoring private telephone conversations.
The censorship section operated within the press, radio, newspapers, and other communications media as well as within cultural societies, schools, and other organizations.
The public records section administered government documents and statistics, primarily social and economic statistics that were handled as state secrets.
The prison camps section was charged with the political reeducation of inmates and the evaluation of the degree to which they posed a danger to society. Local police supplied guards for fourteen prison camps throughout the country.
The physical security section provided guards for important party and government officials and installations.
The counterespionage section was responsible for neutralizing foreign intelligence operations in Albania as well as domestic movements and parties opposed to the Party.
Finally, the foreign intelligence section maintained personnel abroad and at home to obtain intelligence about foreign capabilities and intentions that affected Albania's national security. Its officers occupied cover positions in Albania's foreign diplomatic missions, trade offices, and cultural centers.
Category:Albanian intelligence agencies Category:Defunct intelligence agencies Category:Law enforcement agencies of Albania Category:Eastern bloc Category:Law enforcement in communist states Category:Communist Albania
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