“The Whole Story Makes a Frivolous Impression”: the Problem of Establishing Soviet-Albanian Relations in 1924
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31168/2073-5731.2026.1-2.06Keywords:
USSR, Albania, June Revolution, Fan Noli, G. V. Chicherin, A. A. Krakovetsky, international relations, Soviet diplomacy, BalkansAbstract
The rise to power in Albania of Fan Noli’s left-liberal government following the June Revolution of 1924 initiated the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tirana and Moscow. However, the negotiation process, which began in July, dragged on for six months and ultimately failed. The protracted delays in resolving the issue of Soviet-Albanian relations were primarily caused by the uncoordinated actions of the Soviet plenipotentiary missions in Rome and Vienna: each conducted independent negotiations with the Albanian side on its own terms, leaving Tirana unclear about Moscow’s final position. Another significant hurdle was the bureaucratic red tape surrounding the appointment of staff for the proposed mission in Tirana. These delays were compounded by the deteriorating relations between the Albanian government and the Kosovo Committee, which had been actively promoting closer Soviet-Albanian ties. This situation was exploited by Great Britain, Italy, and Yugoslavia (with French support), who feared the expansion of Soviet influence in the Balkans. By exerting joint pressure on Noli’s government, these aforementioned powers secured the expulsion of the recently arrived plenipotentiary representative, A. A. Krakovetsky. A further coup in Albania in December 1924 and the return of Ahmed Zogu’s government to power marked the end of the first attempt to establish diplomatic relations between Tirana and Moscow.
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation No. 24-18-00461, “‘Imagined Regions’ Between the Two World Wars: Problems of Construction and Management,” https://rscf.ru/project/24-18-00461/
Received: 20.07.2025.
Revised: 08.02.2026.
Accepted: 17.03.2026.
Citation
Rodin D. V. “The Whole Story Makes a Frivolous Impression”: the Problem of Establishing Soviet-Albanian Relations in 1924 // Slavic Almanac. 2026. No 1–2. P. 135–158 (in Russian). DOI: 10.31168/2073-5731.2026.1-2.06
