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(Amended by Law No. 72/2022, dated 20.10.2022; Amended by Law No. 114/2020, dated 29.7.2020) (Updated)

Section 3

Information for research, historical, and media purposes

Article 36
Information for research and historical purposes (points 5 and 6 added by Law No. 114/2020, dated 29.7.2020, ndryshohet shkronja “dh” e pikës 1 with Law No. 72/2022, after point 5, letters “a” and “b” are added)

1. In the context of research and scientific inquiry, with the aim of historical reassessment of the activity of the former State Security or for civic education purposes, the Authority provides, upon request, the following documents:

a) documents that do not contain personal data;
b) duplicates of documents in which personal data has been rendered unreadable;
c) documents containing personal data about employees, collaborators, or beneficiaries of the former State Security, related to activities carried out in favor of the former State Security after reaching the age of 18;
ç) documents containing personal data about historical figures of the time, holders of political functions, insofar as the information relates to their role in the history of the time and the exercise of their functions;
d) other documents containing personal data, if written consent is provided by the individuals concerned;
dh) documents containing personal data about deceased persons, whose death occurred at least 10 years ago.

2. Documents containing personal data are made available only when their use does not harm the legitimate interests and rights of the individuals mentioned in these documents, in accordance with and insofar as it does not conflict with the legislation on the protection of personal data.

3. For the publication of personal data obtained pursuant to points 1 and 2 of this article, the applicable legislation on the protection of personal data shall apply.

4. In the implementation of points 1 and 2 of this article, the Authority, when possible, informs the individuals concerned about the disclosure of the data and takes into account any objections they may have, assessing in each case the private interest versus the public interest.

5. In the context of civic education, with the aim of informing citizens about the documents and activities of the former State Security in general, and with a particular focus on younger generations, the Authority carries out activities that contribute to shaping civic awareness for reconstructing the narrative of the communist past, based on scientific research, within the scope of this law.
a) In the course of its informative activities, the Authority cooperates with national memory museums by making available to cultural heritage institutions the archival documentation it holds and collaborates with them in uncovering the truth about the crimes of communism.
b) The Authority supports the organization of school visits, encouraged and suggested by the Ministry of Education and Sports, as part of the annual program, to sites of memory on historical commemorative days.

6. For the implementation of activities under this law, the Authority has the right to select and contract external experts. The payment of external experts is determined in accordance with the applicable sublegal acts.