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Sofokli Lazri (1923-2002) was an Albanian diplomat and publicist. In the 1980s he was the principal advisor of Albania's Premier, Ramiz Alia, for Albania's international relations. Lazri was the founder of the Institute of Studies of International Relations in 1981 (Instituti i Marredhenieve Nderkombetare). He is also known as a publicist (mainly nonfictional). His name has been followed by controversy in Albania as some media have deemed him to be a secret agent of Soviet Union's KGB.

Life
Born in Vuno, in the Himara region, in 1923, Sofokli Lazri studied in Tirana and Shkoder high schools, and was involved in National Liberation Movement, in the 5th Attacking Brigade, with which he participated in the liberation of Albania and Kosovo from Nazi Germany. He graduated in journalism in the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Upon his return from his studies he became a journalist until becoming the main head editor of the Bashkimi newspaper, as well as secretary of the council of editors of Zëri i Popullit. He was also a professor of the University of Tirana, where, in 1971 he obtained the Professor title. At the university he founded the chair of journalism, and focused in teaching internatonal studies. In 1981 he founded the first Institute of Studies of Internatinal Relations in Albania. He was head of the Albanian Commision of Unesco, and in 1982-1991 political advisor of President Ramiz Alia. Lazri has headed special missions such has the reestablishment of the international relations with the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. he was member of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania.

Controversy
According to a book of Mehmet Elezi, entitled “Enigma e vëllezërve siamezë”, 2011, Lazri was one of the most powerful people in communist Albania. He was the one who made the key decisions in international politics of Albania and ranked higher than Ramiz Alia himself in the eyes of the Soviet Union. Other publications describe Lazri as merely the chief of secret services of KGB in Albania.