Rexhep Gali Balidemaj, an emblematic figure of Albanian resistance and patriotism known as the “Mandela of Plav and Gusinje,” passed away today at the age of 102.
His son, Naim Balidemaj, announced his father’s passing in a Facebook post: “It is with deep pain that we announce that on June 8, 2025, our beloved Rexhep Gali Balidemaj (December 19, 1922 – June 8, 2025) passed away at the age of 102. A long life dedicated to high human values. The burial and farewell ceremony will be announced later. For more information, you will be contacted shortly.”
Born on December 19, 1922, in the village of Martinaj, Gusinje, to Gal Shabani and Sutë Goçaj – Balidemaj, Rexhep came from a family renowned for its patriotic commitment.
In 1941, with the help of Minister Qazim Koçulli, Rexhepi enrolled in the Tirana gymnasium. There, he joined anti-fascist youth groups and actively participated in actions against the occupiers. In 1943, he joined the ranks of the National Liberation Army, fighting until Trieste, Italy.
After World War II, Rexhepi pursued a military career. In 1946, he was sent to Kyiv to train as a pilot, becoming the first Albanian military aviation pilot. In 1948, he began working as a pilot in Zagreb. Following the Cominform Resolution, he was identified as a supporter of Albania and was arrested in 1949, serving a 6-year sentence in Goli Otok, one of Yugoslavia’s most notorious prisons. After this, he was arrested and sentenced five more times for patriotic activities, spending a total of over 16 years in various Yugoslav prisons.
In 1983, Rexhepi became part of a clandestine group known as “the trio,” an underground organization designed to avoid infiltration by secret services. He was arrested again and sentenced to 5 years in prison for hostile agitation and propaganda. Following the engagement of lawyer Bajram Kelmendi, the sentence was reduced to 3 years, which he served in prisons in Prishtina, Gjilan, and Gjurakovc.
After the liberation of Kosovo, Rexhepi continued his commitment to the national cause. In 2024, he was honored by the “Genocide in Kosovo – Open Wound” Center for his extraordinary contribution. In 2025, he met with American General Wesley Clark, expressing gratitude for his support during the 1999 NATO bombings.
Rexhep Gali Balidemaj lived in New York with his three sons, Naim, Nerim, and Kujtim. He remains a symbol of resistance and patriotism for Albanians from Plav, Gusinje, and the entire Albanian nation. The people of Plav and Gusinje proudly honor him as the “Mandela of Plav and Gusinje” for his life dedicated to the national cause.
