Wreaths, flowers, tears and deep grief prevailed Thursday as Albania bid farewell to Sokol Olldashi, a leading charismatic figure of the opposition Democratic Party, who died at the age of 40 when his car plunged over a cliff late on Wednesday while travelling to capital Tirana from Elbasan city.

Hundreds of mourners, family members, friends, collaborators, politicians and government officials paid their last respects to the passionate journalist, member of Albanian Assembly since 2001, who has also served as Interior Minister from 2005 to 2007 and post of Public Works, Transport and Communication Minister from 2007 to 2013.

Hundreds of citizens and the country’s highest state officials paid tributes to the late renowned politician Sokol Olldashi at the Parliament building.

President of the Republic, Bujar Nishani, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Speaker of the Parliament, Ilir Meta, Chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, former Prime Ministers Fatos Nano, and Sali Berisha, lawmakers and foreign diplomats offered their most heartfelt condolences to Olldashi family for the loss of their beloved son, husband and father.

Sokol Olldashi was laid to rest with state honours at Sharra cemetery, where MP Astrit Patozi delivered a farewell speech.