Haxhi Lleshi

Although Lleshi was re elected in the parliament after the fall of the in the multi party elections, In 1996, a group of high-ranking Sigurimi functionaries were brought to trial on charges of "genocide and crimes against humanity." The sentences were harsh, including the death penalty, but soon the charges were softened. 83 year old Haxhi Leshi was sentenced to life imprisonment, but a month later, on 24 July 1996, he was released on bail, taking into account age and health

On 13 February 1995, President of Albania Sali Berisha issued decree N. 1018 – on the abolition of all awards and honorary titles awarded to the leaders of the communist regime. This decision affected Enver Hoxha (posthumously), Nexhmije Hoxha (lifetime), Hysni Kapo (posthumously), Shefqet Peçi (lifetime), Gogo Nushi (posthumously), Spiro Koleka (lifetime), Haki Toska (posthumously), Haxhi Lleshi (lifetime). Thus, Lleshi was stripped of the title of People's Hero.

Lleshi retired from his position as chairman of the Presidium on 22 November 1982, after nearly 30 years in office, when Hoxha reshuffled the government. Hoxha died three years later, and during the early 1990s, the communist regime fell, but Lleshi continued to live in Albania.

On 1 August 1953, Lleshi became Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania, a post equivalent to that of president. He was nominally the third most powerful man in Albania, behind general secretary Enver Hoxha and prime minister Mehmet Shehu. During Lleshi's time in power, Albania became known as one of the most independent communist nations, as it feuded with the Soviet Union, became an ally of the People's Republic of China, and then feuded with China in the 1970s.

Lleshi was one of the top commanders in Albania's fight against the Italians and Germans during World War II. When a Communist-dominated government was set up in Albania in 1944, Lleshi became interior minister and served in that position from 1944 to 1946. His name was mentioned in a CIA report of 1952 as a Yugoslavian informant, together with Myslym Peza. In the report, it was Haxhi and Aqif Lleshi who misled Yugoslavian militia by mistranslating the CIA agent which in turn prevented him from entering Albania for the purpose of government disruption and destabilization of Albania.

In the 1920s he worked as a shepherd in his homeland. As part of the anti-Zogist movement in 1922, Lleshi's family fled to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, where they settled in Debar, and later in Banjishte near Debar. From 1926 to 1931 he attended elementary school, then attended a grammar school in Albanian and the second and third in Serbo-Croatian language in city of Debar.

Haxhi Lleshi (1 May 1913 – 1 January 1998) was an Albanian military leader and communist politician who served as the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania from 1953 to 1982.