A photograph by Ridvan Slivova, photographer for Telegrafi, has brought renewed attention to the last student protest in Prishtina, held on April 30, 1998, near the technical faculties—one of the most significant moments of peaceful student resistance in Kosovo.
In the image, Albin Kurti, Muhamet Mavraj, Driton Lajçi, and other activists of the student movement of that time can be seen.
The protest occurred on the day that, according to the annex agreement for the normalization of Albanian-language education in Kosovo, Albanian students were scheduled to return to university buildings.
Under the agreement, students from the three technical faculties—Civil Engineering and Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering—were to enter their respective buildings according to a selection agreed upon by the negotiating parties.
However, large Serbian police forces blocked all roads leading to the faculties, preventing students from entering. Police set up cordons at all entrances, keeping students 200–300 meters away from the university buildings.
The protest concluded with chants of “UCK, UCK”, marking the final moment of this student movement.
Despite provocations, insults, and stone-throwing from Serbian students and civilians, Albanian students and professors dispersed peacefully.
After being prevented from entering the faculties, students, instructors, and staff of the technical faculties were blocked by large Serbian police units on the very day they were supposed to return.
Nonetheless, the students demonstrated determination to continue their peaceful activism until all their demands were fully realized.
