Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called for a comprehensive investigation into the 1999 murder of the Bytyqi brothers—Yll, Agron, and Mehmet Bytyqi. Speaking at a memorial service on the 27th anniversary of the incident, Kurti stated that achieving justice for the Bytyqi brothers remains a commitment for the Republic of Kosovo and the international community. Kurti described the Bytyqi brothers as symbols of patriotism, sacrifice, and the struggle for freedom.
He noted that the three brothers, who were American citizens of Kosovar origin, served in the “Atlantic” volunteer unit of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the liberation war against the Serbian regime. He recalled that on June 23, 1999, the brothers were arrested by Serbian police after assisting a Roma family fleeing Kosovo to Serbia. Following a 15-day detention, they were allegedly executed by the Serbian state apparatus, with their bodies later discovered in the Petrovo Sello mass grave in Serbia in 2001.
The Acting Prime Minister asserted that the murder of the Bytyqi brothers serves as clear evidence of Serbia’s crimes against Albanians and its reluctance to accept responsibility. He stressed that the passage of time does not diminish the obligation for justice, but rather intensifies the burden of impunity. Kurti mentioned that Kosovo and the United States have consistently advocated for bringing those responsible for the crime to justice, referencing US House resolutions from 2019 and 2022 that called for Serbian cooperation.
Kurti concluded by affirming that the Republic of Kosovo will persist in seeking the truth, accountability, and justice for the Bytyqi brothers, stating, “We will continue to work to achieve justice for them, until the end.”
Topics: #murder #bytyqi #brothers
