Seiko, Theme

Born in the family of a wealthy landowner, a native of Greece . Belonged to the fellowship of the Cham Albanians (the so-called “Cham brotherhood”). Studying in Tirana , he joined the underground communist organization. In 1943 he joined the Communist Party of Albania .

Theme Seiko actively participated in the communist partisan movement. He was arrested by Italian occupiers (released for lack of evidence), was wounded in one of the battles. In 1944 he served as political commissar of the 18th partisan brigade. Participated in the capture of Tirana by the National Liberation Army . From December 1944 to May 1945 he served in the rank of major in the system of "internal security" - the future Sigurimi .

In 1945, Teme Seiko was sent to study in Moscow . Graduated with honors from the MV Frunze Military Academy . Returning to Albania, in September 1949 he was appointed head of the intelligence department of the Ministry of Defense of the NRA with the rank of colonel.

In 1955 - 1957, Seiko studied again in the USSR . He graduated from the Higher Military Academy named after K. E. Voroshilov . Returning to Albania, in January 1958 he was appointed commander of the NRA Naval Forces ^[1] . Since July 1959 he had the military rank of rear admiral.

In the ruling Albanian Communist Party, Tema Seiko belonged to the Soviet Union-oriented wing. But after Stalin's death , Soviet-Albanian relations began to deteriorate rapidly . It is assumed that Rear Admiral Seiko belonged to a group of supporters of the " Khrushchev thaw, " who in April 1956 opposed the Stalinist policy of Enver Khoja and his entourage ^[2] . In addition, in the early 1960s, the authorities conducted a repressive campaign against the Cham Brotherhood, in which frankly anti - communist sentiments were prevalent ^[3] .

July 28, 1960 Tome Seiko was arrested and charged with espionage in favor of Greece. The total number of accused was 65 people. The main ones were 10, led by Theme Seiko. They appeared before the court under the chairmanship of Shunaip Panariti . The public prosecution was represented by the NRA Prosecutor General Aranit Chelya .

In his last word to Temé, Seiko recognized himself as an agent of “American imperialists, Greek monarchist fascists and Yugoslav revisionists” and asked “to consider repentance” ^[4] .

On May 27, 1961, four defendants, including Tema Seiko, were sentenced to death and executed on May 31, 1961 ^[5] .

Theme Seiko was married, had three sons, two brothers and two sisters. The fate of the family was tragic ^[1] .

Tahoe Seiko, the older brother of Theme Seiko, was arrested and executed in 1962 . Sulo Seiko, the younger brother of Theme Seiko, committed suicide in 1963 without waiting for his arrest. In 1974 , Falcon Seiko, the son of Temé Seiko, was executed. Shortly afterwards, Spresa Seiko, the wife of Theme Seiko, committed suicide.

Other members of the Seiko family, including the sons Raymond and Sulo, were sentenced to imprisonment or deported.

In contemporary Albania, Tema, Seiko and his family are among the victims of the communist regime.

• Panayot Plaku
• Dali Ndreu