Alia, Ramiz (1925– )

Albanian communist politician, head of state 1982–92. He gradually relaxed the isolationist policies of his predecessor, Enver Hoxha, and following public unrest introduced political and economic reforms, including free elections in 1991, when he was elected executive president. In September 1994 Alia was convicted of abuse of power while in office and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, but was released in July 1995 following an appeal court ruling. In October 1997 the Albanian prosecutor general dropped genocide charges againsts Alia.

Born in Shkodër in northwestern Albania, the son of poor Muslim peasants, Alia joined the National Liberation Army in 1944, actively opposing Nazi control. After a period in charge of agitation and propaganda, he was inducted into the secretariat and politburo of the ruling Party of Labour of Albania (PLA) 1960–61. On 22 November 1982 he succeeded Haxhi Lleshi as president of the Presidium of the newly elected People's Assembly. On the death of Hoxha in April 1985 he became party leader, soon earning the description of the ‘Albanian Gorbachev’. In April 1991 he was elected executive president of the Republic of Albania, following the PLA's victory in multiparty elections. A month later, in conformity with the provisions of the new interim constitution, which debarred the Republic's president from holding party office, he resigned as PLA first secretary and from its politburo and central committee. Sali Berisha replaced Alia as president in March 1992.