The son of legendary Albanian actor Kadri Roshi, Kliti Roshi, has opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his life and his family’s, recalling the years that eventually forced them to emigrate to Greece.
Speaking to journalist Erjona Rusi, Kliti said he decided to leave Albania because he had been left unemployed after being dismissed from the National Theatre by its then-director, Robert Ndrenika.
Kliti explained that life became extremely difficult, as he and his parents survived on the pensions of his elderly parents while his wife worked as a shop assistant.
Kliti Roshi:
“From 1993 to 1996, I, Kadri Roshi’s son, was dismissed from my job in the most cynical, unjust, and inhumane way imaginable. I can’t even find polite words to describe it.”
Erjona Rusi:
“How did the three of you survive?”
Kliti Roshi:
“We lived off the pensions of my parents, while my wife worked as a saleswoman.”
Asked why he could not continue working at the theatre, Kliti claimed the real reason was political.
Kliti Roshi:
“They called me a ‘socialist’s puppy,’ not even a socialist’s son. Officially, they wrote that I was ‘incompetent.’ Yet witnesses who later testified in court—including members of the ruling political party—said there had never been anyone more qualified for that position at the People’s Theatre. Still, I was declared incompetent.”
He said a government decision at the time allowed directors to dismiss employees at their discretion, adding that Robert Ndrenika was both the theatre director and a member of parliament.
When asked directly whether Robert Ndrenika had fired him, Kliti answered:
“Yes.”
He further alleged that Ndrenika insulted both him and his father using offensive language.
Kliti also claimed that during a confrontation, he was physically assaulted.
Erjona Rusi:
“Physically?”
Kliti Roshi:
“Yes. Along with two other men who came as his bodyguards to beat me.”
He recalled that the incident happened during the 30th anniversary performance of Aesop in May 1993 while he was waiting for his father, Kadri Roshi.
According to Kliti, he was later falsely accused of making anonymous late-night phone calls insulting Ndrenika—an accusation he strongly denied.
Asked whether the two had ever reconciled, Kliti said they never did.
Speaking about Kadri Roshi’s funeral, he revealed that he had instructed three people not to allow Robert Ndrenika inside.
Erjona Rusi:
“So you didn’t want to let him attend?”
Kliti Roshi:
“If I had seen him before he got in, I would have thrown him out with kicks.”
When Rusi noted that someone should not be turned away from a funeral, Kliti replied:
“Then you should respect the dead as well. Respect goes both ways. After everything that happened, and after insulting a man like my father, I could never accept it. For me, Kadri Roshi is above everyone—even above Zeus.”
