Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti commemorated Bosnian activist Šefko Salković on the 14th anniversary of his murder in Leposaviq. Kurti took to Facebook to reflect on the tragic event, which he described as an attack aimed at spreading fear and panic among those trying to integrate into Kosovo’s institutions, especially in northern municipalities predominantly inhabited by Serbs.
“Salković was a Bosnian activist who showed loyalty to the Republic of Kosovo. He was known for his involvement in electoral processes and his representation of the community in the Leposaviq area. This was unacceptable to Serbia, which led to his murder on December 8, 2010, in the village of Podstenje, Leposaviq,” Kurti wrote.
He explained that the responsibility for the murder was initially claimed by the paramilitary group “Beli Orlovi” (White Eagles) from Serbia. The attack occurred around 2:00 PM, just days before the snap elections on December 12, 2010, in which Sallkoviq had served as a commissioner for the coalition “Vakat”.
“In the ambush set by the attackers, Edin Islamović, who was in the car with Šefko, was also wounded but managed to jump into the Ibar River after the shooting. Even while recovering in the hospital, Edin was targeted in another attempt on his life,” Kurti continued.
The Prime Minister stated that the murder of Salković was intended to instill fear among those working to integrate into Kosovo’s institutions, particularly in the northern Serb-majority regions.
Investigations revealed that the individuals responsible for the murder were Jugoslav Petrović and Radomir Delić, members of Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs security forces. Both were arrested in Belgrade on December 27, 2010, for drug trafficking, but neither has been directly prosecuted for the murder.
Kurti concluded by emphasizing the resistance against the structures of fear, blackmail, and violence that Serbia has used against community members in Kosovo. “Today, we remember Šefko Salković, as a defender of Kosovo, a community rights activist, and a symbol of resistance against Serbia,” Kurti wrote. “Fourteen years later, the Serbian structures that use fear and violence to oppress communities have been pushed back from the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. Our citizens, in every locality, should live freely and without fear.”
