On February 28, 2026, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, accompanied by Parliament Speaker Albulena Haxhiu, Deputy Speaker Ardian Gola, and other state officials, paid tribute in Qirez and Likoshan to mark the 28th anniversary of the first massacre of the Kosovo War.
After laying wreaths, Kurti highlighted that 28 years ago, 20 martyrs were killed in these two villages during the opening events of the conflict.
Honoring the Fallen and Strengthening Kosovo’s Future
Kurti stressed that the high price of freedom obliges the government to focus on economic development and, above all, strengthening the Kosovo Army and the Kosovo Security Forces.
“Today we lay fresh flowers, but we also remind ourselves of the high price of freedom we enjoy and the state we have. We are obliged to continually strengthen our economy, assist the elderly, women, and children, support entrepreneurs, and above all, fortify the army of the Republic of Kosovo, the Kosovo Security Forces, so that no one ever dares to attack or kill us as in the past. Their blood is at the roots of our freedom, at the foundation of our state, and is an everlasting historical reminder of how we must defend and cherish our Republic and our people,” Kurti said.
The First Massacre and the Start of the War
The conflict began 28 years ago in the Drenica villages of Likoshan and Qirez, at a site known as “Te tre lisat”, where fighting erupted between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and Serbian forces. Several Serbian policemen were killed during these clashes. In retaliation, Serbian forces surrounded the villages and executed 24 innocent civilians, including Rukije Nebihu, a seven-month pregnant woman holding her three-year-old daughter, as well as members of the Ahmeti, Sejdiu, Behrami, Fazliu, Rama, Rexhepi, and Gjeli families.
Kurti noted that this massacre served as a catalyst for national and international awareness, sparking a growing recognition of Kosovo’s struggle among the Albanian diaspora and global diplomatic communities.
He reiterated that the sacrifice of the martyrs underscores the government’s responsibility to ensure Kosovo’s security, prosperity, and sovereignty for future generations.
