Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has commemorated the anniversary of the Rezallë massacre, describing it as one of the gravest crimes of the Kosovo war and accusing Serbia of continuing to conceal evidence of mass graves linked to the conflict.
Marking April 5, Kurti emphasized that the wounds of the 1999 massacre remain fresh for families and for society across Kosovo. He recalled that 98 men and boys were killed in Rezallë, a crime that continues to symbolize the brutality experienced during the war in the Balkans.
According to Kurti, Serbian forces not only carried out the executions but also attempted to hide the evidence by removing the victims’ bodies. He noted that 29 of those killed were later found in a mass grave in Rudnicë, in Serbia, while additional remains were recovered from Kizhevak and returned to Kosovo in 2021. In some cases, families were only able to reunite remains years after initial exhumations, highlighting the prolonged suffering of victims’ relatives.
Kurti further stated that Serbia still conceals information about at least 11 mass graves believed to be located within its territory. He stressed that more than 950 unarmed civilians were killed during the war in Kosovo, with their bodies transported to Serbia and hidden in mass burial sites. Some of these efforts included the use of refrigerated trucks, which were later discovered submerged in lakes.
Calling for international action, Kurti urged global partners to pressure Serbia to fully disclose the fate of missing persons. He also called on Kosovo’s justice institutions to act without delay to ensure that those responsible—both commanders and perpetrators—are held accountable.
The Prime Minister concluded by underlining the importance of remembrance and justice, stating that the atrocities of the Kosovo war must not be forgotten. He framed the commemoration as both a tribute to the victims and a commitment to building a future where younger generations in Kosovo can live freely and securely.