Kosovo marks the 26th anniversary of the Reçak Massacre, a tragic event on January 15, 1999, when Serbian forces brutally killed 45 unarmed Albanian civilians in the village of Reçak.
Under the patronage of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and the Mayor of Shtime, Qemajl Aliu, commemorative events titled “Days of Reçak” have been organized to honor the victims.
On Thursday, the first lesson in schools across the country will be dedicated to the massacre. At 8:30 AM, tributes will commence at the Reçak Memorial Complex and the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Shtime. State leaders are scheduled to pay their respects at 10:00 AM, followed by a memorial academy at 11:00 AM. Additional activities to remember the massacre will take place throughout the afternoon.
A Dark Chapter in Kosovo’s History
On the morning of January 15, 1999, the village of Reçak was surrounded by Serbian forces. Witnesses recount that heavy artillery bombardment began at around 6:30 AM. After the shelling ceased, troops entered the village, conducting raids and committing acts of extreme violence.
The massacre shocked the world. The head of the OSCE monitoring mission in Kosovo at the time, Ambassador William Walker, described it as a “crime against humanity.” The atrocity galvanized international diplomatic efforts, drawing global attention to the plight of Kosovars and exposing the genocidal plans of the regime led by Slobodan Milošević.
A Legacy of Remembrance
The massacre in Reçak remains a pivotal moment in Kosovo’s history, symbolizing the resilience and suffering of its people. Events like these ensure the victims are never forgotten and continue to highlight the importance of justice and human rights in conflict zones.
