Volunteers (Albania)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
yes
|
| PGM ID Number: |
123
|
| Country: |
Albania |
| Date formed: |
March 13, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group formed in response to a televised appeal by the government calling on retired, fired and active police officers and soldiers to join a new police force. |
| Date dissolved: |
July 3, 1997 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
After Berisha lost the elections in June 1997, key officials who commanded President Berisha’s militia left the country and the interim government controlled his militias. |
| Termination Type(s): |
integrated into regular forces
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
person/minister
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
|
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
no information |
| Shared Personnel: |
yes |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
domestic government
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
none
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The group might be also known as “Committee of National Salvation”. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The main purpose of the Volunteers was to protect President Berisha from the disorder in the capital and insurgencies directed against him. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
coup-proofing
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
|
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
unknown
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Members joined voluntarily in response to an appeal by the government. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The Volunteers were armed by the government and received training from the secret-police chief. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The Volunteers were a private militia loyal only to President Berisha. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Evidence
