There he joined the left-wing political movement "Bashkimi" (English:Unity) of Avni Rustemi, Llazar Fundo, and Fuat Asllani.

Kelmendi joined the anti-Zogist group KONARE (English: Revolutionary National Committee, Albanian: Komiteti Nacional Revolucionar) founded by Noli.

On 8 October 1925 Kelmendi went then to the Soviet Union together with other 13 Albanians based on a study-related invitation from COMINTERN.

He passed one year in the Dzerzhinsky Academy in Leningrad (today's "Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich"), and after that he moved to Odessa to work as customs official.

He died in Paris, France, on 11 February 1939 after complications from a stomach surgery, while suffering from tuberculosis.