itical prisoners were tortured and beaten by the Sigurimi during
             investigations, and political detainees lacked adequate legal safeguards during pretrial
             investigations. Most investigations into political offenses lasted for several months. Alia's
             regime took an important step toward democracy in early May 1990, when it announced
             its desire to join the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, while at the same
             time introducing positive changes in its legal system. A prerequisit
             ...