Today marks 35 years since the release of prominent Albanian activist Adem Demaçi from Yugoslav prisons—a moment that was met with massive public celebration at the time.
Demaçi, who spent a total of 28 years in prison, was released on April 21, 1990, alongside fellow political prisoners from Croatia. Upon his return, he was greeted by thousands of citizens, celebrating his unwavering dedication to the Albanian cause.
A Life of Resistance and Dignity
Arrested three separate times by the Yugoslav regime, Demaçi became a symbol of peaceful resistance, advocating for the rights and equality of Albanians throughout the former Yugoslavia.
In one of his first interviews after his release, given to Slovenian television, Demaçi expressed no hatred or desire for revenge. Instead, he called for coexistence and constructive dialogue to resolve the region’s growing tensions.
“I want to open new paths toward freedom and equality—not just in words, but in action,” he stated.
The Third Arrest: 1975
Demaçi’s final and longest prison term began on October 6, 1975, when he was arrested in Prishtina. That year saw a wave of politically motivated arrests across Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vojvodina, and among Albanians in Macedonia and Montenegro.
Serbian secret police labeled Demaçi and others as threats to Yugoslavia’s unity, accusing them of promoting “disintegration” through ideas of national self-determination.
Adem Demaçi remains an enduring figure in Kosovo’s political memory, remembered not only for his sacrifice and resilience, but for his vision of a peaceful and just future in the Balkans.
