Today, the National Museum of Surveillance, known as the “House of Leaves,” commemorated Albanian intellectual and state minister Akile Tasi (1891–January 30, 1961).

Akile Tasi was born in 1891 in Leusë, Përmet. He completed his early education in his hometown and later continued his studies in Boston, United States. There, he actively collaborated with Fan Noli and Faik Konica within the Albanian-American federation “Vatra.” At the same time, he contributed to the newspaper Dielli.

In 1929, Tasi returned to Albania. Subsequently, he organized the library of the Royal Court for several years. In 1932, authorities appointed him Director of the National Library, a position he held until 1941.

Later, in 1943, voters elected him as a member of the National Assembly. Shortly afterward, he took charge of the newspaper Bashkimi i Kombit. In 1944, he assumed the role of Minister of Popular Culture.

However, Tasi refused to leave Albania. As a result, partisans arrested him in December 1944. The notorious Special Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison. He served his sentence in the camps of Maliq, Vloçisht, and Bedeni, and later in Burrel Prison.

Meanwhile, his health deteriorated severely. Despite this, authorities rejected all his written appeals for relief. Eventually, Akile Tasi died on January 30, 1961, in Tirana Prison.

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