The Authority for Information on the Documents of the Former State Security provides services to citizens, public institutions, researchers, and the media, with the aim of guaranteeing the right to know and preserving historical memory. Every citizen has the right to access documents if they were a subject of surveillance by the former State Security. Family members of political persecuted individuals may request information about the fate of their deceased or killed relatives during the dictatorship. The Authority verifies individuals' involvement in the former State Security structures upon request by relevant institutions. It enables archival research for scientific, media, and educational purposes, and promotes awareness of the past and encourages social reflection.
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This section provides short and clear answers on how citizens, researchers, and journalists can request and obtain documents from the former State Security archive.
You will find information about the application process, required documents, deadlines and procedures, as well as the rules for reviewing and obtaining duplicates. The goal is to ensure transparency, accurate information, and respect for the right to know the past. For help or questions, you can contact us at: info@autoritetidosjeve.gov.al
Access is granted through an official request in accordance with Law no. 45/2015 and the relevant guidelines approved by the Authority. The applicant must complete the appropriate form for researchers and media, available on the Authority’s website www.autoritetidosjeve.gov.al, and attach documentation proving their status as a researcher, journalist, or media representative. After verification and approval of the request, the documents are retrieved from the archive, and the material is made available in compliance with legislation on the protection of personal data and the rights of the affected parties.
To complete your request as accurately as possible, please refer to the “Guide for Researchers and Journalists” on our official website. If you wish to contact the department directly, the emails and contact numbers can be found on the website.
The duration depends on several factors: the completeness of the documentation, the complexity of the request, the condition of the documents, verification with the affected parties, and technical processing. Usually, the process goes through several phases: validation of the request, archival search, processing, and decision-making for provision. In priority cases (e.g., urgent academic research or media projects with deadlines), the Authority may expedite the procedures.
Yes. If the documents contain sensitive personal data that affect the privacy of third parties, the Authority may require approval from the affected party or their family. Without this approval, only anonymized content or a limited part of the file may be provided.
Declassification of documents means the removal of the "state secret" status from documents kept by the Authority. This process allows previously classified documents to become accessible to the public, in accordance with legal provisions and principles of transparency, respect for individual rights, and personal data protection.
Për vetë konsultimin në sallën e studimit nuk ka tarifë. Por nëse kërkohet dublikatë fizike ose digjitale e dokumenteve, zbatohen tarifat standarde për printim ose skanim, sipas vendimit të Këshillit të Ministrave për shërbimet arkivore, informacione të cilat e gjeni ne faqe web të Autoritetit www.autoritetidosjeve.gov.al
The archival collection of the Authority preserves investigative, operational, surveillance, and collaborator files of the security service, surveillance reports, alerts, political reports, as well as internal and inter-institutional correspondence of the time. The content of the documents depends on the type of file and the function of the monitored subject.
