Government sets 2,000 leks per day to compensate former political persecuted

TIRANA, April 25 – The government decided Wednesday to set the figure of 2,000 leks per day to recompensate thousands of former political persecuted. “The reward is symbolic because thousands of them were executed while still young because they thought differently,” said Prime Minister Sali Berisha. It is expected that the reward will be made in different instalments to each individual. An estimated 35,000 Albanians are asking for financial compensation for the up to 30 years each they spent in prison or in isolation in remote areas after World War II until the communist regime was toppled in 1990. They seek payment of 3,400 leks per day for their ordeal _ or US$350,000 for those who were imprisoned 30 years. In all, it would mean a US$1.5 billion expense for the government. So far, only the families of people who were executed by the communist regime have received a compensation of 200,000 leks.