Commemorations were held today marking 28 years since the disappearance of Hafir Shala, widely regarded as the first doctor of the Kosovo Liberation Army (Kosovo Liberation Army).
Family members, citizens, and institutional representatives gathered in Drenas to pay tribute and demand stronger efforts to clarify the fate of missing persons from the war period.
Disappearance during the war
Hafir Shala went missing on April 10, 1998, while traveling from Drenas to Prishtina. He was reportedly arrested by Serbian police, and since then his fate has remained unknown.
Despite extensive efforts over the years, his remains have not been found.
Calls for justice and accountability
Representatives of Kosovo’s Government Commission on Missing Persons reaffirmed their commitment to uncovering the truth about all missing individuals from the war.
They emphasized that determining the fate and whereabouts of the missing remains a moral and institutional obligation.
Local officials also urged international institutions and Serbia to intensify cooperation in resolving cases of enforced disappearances from the conflict period.
Local tribute in Drenas
The commemoration ceremony took place in the courtyard of the Family Medicine Center in Drenas, where citizens and public officials laid flowers and paid respects.
The Mayor of Drenas, Ramiz Lladrovci, described Shala as a dedicated and respected figure who contributed both to healthcare and to Kosovo’s struggle for freedom, while calling for stronger institutional pressure to resolve missing persons cases.
Judicial developments
In 2025, the Basic Court in Prishtina sentenced Slavisha Filić to 15 years in prison for his role in the kidnapping and disappearance of Hafir Shala during the war.
