Sylejman Selimi

Last updated

There is de facto Albanian nation. The tragedy is that European powers after World War I decided to divide that nation between several Balkan states. We are now fighting to unify the nation, to liberate all Albanians, including those in Macedonia, Montenegro, and other parts of Serbia. We are not just a liberation army for Kosovo.

War crimes

Selimi was convicted by Kosovo courts of torturing a civilian prisoner at a KLA detention camp in Likovc/Likovac. [15] He received an eight-year prison sentence but later the court cut his sentence to seven years [16] and was conditionally released in January 2019. Kosovo politicians celebrated his release, with President Hashim Thaci stating: "Kosovo is better and safer with the living hero Sylejman Selimi at liberty." [1] His appointment was criticised by the U.S. ambassador to Kosovo Philip S. Kosnett who stated "Convicted war criminals have no place in Kosovo's government" [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo Liberation Army</span> Ethnic-Albanian nationalist paramilitary organization (1990s–1999)

The Kosovo Liberation Army was an ethnic Albanian separatist militia that sought the separation of Kosovo, the vast majority of which is inhabited by Albanians, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbia during the 1990s. Albanian nationalism was a central tenet of the KLA and many in its ranks supported the creation of a Greater Albania, which would encompass all Albanians in the Balkans, stressing Albanian culture, ethnicity and nation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agim Çeku</span> Kosovar military commander and politician; Prime Minister of Kosovo from 2006 to 2008

Agim Çeku is an ethnic Albanian politician from Kosovo, the former minister of Security Forces in Kosovo and formerly the prime minister. Of military background, he was a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) that fought against Serbian rule in 1998–1999, earlier being a commander in the Croatian War of Independence in the Croatian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Movement of Kosovo</span> Political party in Kosovo

The People's Movement of Kosovo was a political party in Kosovo active after the Kosovo War, having originally been founded as a political movement of Albanian nationalists in 1982. Despite participating in several elections in autonomous Kosovo, its pre-war existence was its most historically significant period. Historically, its support and membership came from Albanian diaspora, especially within Switzerland and Germany, originating mainly from former Yugoslav republics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adem Jashari</span> Commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (1955–1998)

Adem Jashari was one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), a Kosovo Albanian separatist militia which fought for the secession of Kosovo from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo Protection Corps</span> Civilian emergency services organization in Kosovo

The Kosovo Protection Corps was a civilian emergency services organization in Kosovo active from 1999 until 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hashim Thaçi</span> Kosovar politician (born 1968)

Hashim Thaçi is a Kosovar Albanian politician who was the president of Kosovo from April 2016 until his resignation on 5 November 2020 to face a war crimes tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity. He was the first prime minister of Kosovo and the Foreign minister and deputy prime minister in the new cabinet led by Isa Mustafa, which assumed office on 08 December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drenica</span> Historical region of Kosovo

Drenica, also known as the Drenica Valley, is a hilly region in central Kosovo, covering roughly around 700 square kilometres (270 sq mi) of Kosovo's total area (6%). It consists of two municipalities, Drenas and Skenderaj, and several villages in Klina, Zubin Potok, Mitrovica and Vushtrri. It is located west of the capital, Pristina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skenderaj</span> Town and municipality in Mitrovica, Kosovo

Skenderaj or Srbica is a town and municipality located in the Mitrovica District of Kosovo. According to the 2021 census, the municipality of Skënderaj has 52,586 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attack on Prekaz</span> 1998 military operation

The Attack on Prekaz, also known as the Prekaz massacre, was an operation led by the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit of Serbia which lasted from 5 to 7 March 1998, whose goal was to eliminate Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) suspects and their families. During the operation, KLA leader Adem Jashari and his brother Hamëz were killed, along with nearly 60 other family members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agim Ramadani</span> Kosovar military commander (1963–1999)

Agim Ramadani also known with nickname "KATANA", was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization that sought the independence of Kosovo from Serbia. He was killed in action during the Battle of Košare. After the war, he was declared Hero of Kosovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo Specialist Chambers</span> War crimes court

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) is a court of Kosovo, located in The Hague (Netherlands), hosting four Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office, which may perform their activities either in the Netherlands or in Kosovo. The court is currently set up for delegating the trials of the crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic-Albanian paramilitary organisation which sought the separation of Kosovo from Yugoslavia during the 1990s and the eventual creation of a Greater Albania. The alleged crimes concern the period 1998–2000, during and at the end of the Kosovo war and directed afterwards against "ethnic minorities and political opponents". The court was formally established in 2016. It is separate from other Kosovar institutions, and independent. It is composed of a Specialist Prosecutor's Office and four Specialist Chambers, with themselves comprising Judges' Chambers and a Registry.

Luan Haradinaj was a Kosovo Liberation Army soldier who died during the fight with Serbian/Yugoslav forces in Qafë Prush, at the border of that time of Yugoslavia and Albania.

Rustem Mustafa, also known Remi, was the former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army's (KLA) Llap Operational Zone. Born in Kosovo, Mustafa played a significant role in the armed conflict between Serbian forces and the KLA during the late 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rexhep Selimi</span> Kosovar politician

Rexhep Selimi is a Kosovo-Albanian politician and former parliamentary leader of Vetëvendosje. He was also one of the founders and high-ranking commandants of the Kosovo Liberation Army. In 2020, he was indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Kosovo War.

Mujë Krasniqi, also known as Kommandant Kapuçi, was one of the founders and early commanders of Kosovo Liberation Army, who died during an Ambush of Serbian forces in Gorozhup, near the border of that time of Yugoslavia and Albania. Serving as an early fighter, coordinator of military operations, and a crucial link between the regions of Drenica, Dukagjin and Pashtrik during the initial phase of resistance against Serbian forces, he is regarded as a prominent leader and also a close comrade of Adem Jashari.

Besim Mala was one of the most well known commandants of Kosovo Liberation Army and the first Commander of the Special Force in the Kosovo Protection Corps, who was killed under suspicious circumstances as part of a killing series in the early 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ilaz Kodra</span> Kosovo Liberation Army soldier

Ilaz Kodra was one of the founders and early commanders of Kosovo Liberation Army, who died during the Battle of Shtuticë, he is regarded as one of the most prominent leaders of the KLA and the "right hand of Adem Jashari".

Rasim Kiçina was reowned commander of Kosovo Liberation Army and early member of the General Staff of the KLA, who was killed by in an ambush near Arllat during the Kosovo War.

Naim Beka was a rewonwed commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army and Logistics Commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps, who was killed under suspicious circumstances after the Kosovo War.

Ekrem Rexha was a prominent commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army and political figure, who was killed under suspicious circumstances as part of a killing series in the early 2000s.

References

  1. 1 2 Radovanovic, Milica (12 October 2020). "'A Hero Returns': How Freed War Criminals are Glorified in Kosovo". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Kosovo security forces to become operative" Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine b92.net 20 January 2009 Link retrieved 21-01-09
  3. 1 2 3 "Lt. Gen. Selimi appointed as Chief of Staff of Kosovo army" Archived 2009-03-07 at the Wayback Machine newkosovoareport.com 20 December 2009 Link accessed 21-01-09
  4. ↑ "Kosovo's security force launched" news.bbc.co.uk 21 January 2009 Link Retrieved 21-01-09
  5. ↑ " Kosovo's new armed forces take control of security " iht.com 21 January 2009 21-01-09
  6. ↑ "Ambassador Christopher Dell Remarks at the Kosovo Security Force Change of Command in Pristina". Embassy of the United States in Pristina, Kosovo. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Sylejman Selimi sot ka ditëlindjen, Sulltani merr plot urime emocionuese - Infokus". gazetainfokus.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  8. ↑ Editori (2019-05-26). "SULEJMAN SELIMI - NGA 'NJËSHI' I FUTBOLLIT KOSOVAR, TEK LIDERI I UÇK-së". Pashtriku (in Albanian). Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  9. ↑ Kosovo Embassy. "Curriculum Vitae" (in Albanian).
  10. ↑ State-building in Kosovo. A plural policing perspective. Maklu. 5 February 2015. p. 53. ISBN   9789046607497.
  11. 1 2 Liberating Kosovo: Coercive Diplomacy and U. S. Intervention. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. 2012. p. 69. ISBN   9780262305129.
  12. ↑ Dictionary of Genocide. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2008. p. 249. ISBN   9780313346415.
  13. ↑ "Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)". Encyclopædia Britannica. 14 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Albanian Insurgents Keep NATO Forces Busy". Time. 6 March 2001.
  15. ↑ "Kosovo Ex-Commander Sylejman Selimi Freed from Jail". Balkan Insight. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kosovo 'Drenica Group' Guerrillas' Convictions Confirmed". balkaninsight.com. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "War criminals have no place in government, U.S. ambassador tells Kosovo". Reuters . Retrieved 2024-02-19.


Sylejman Selimi
Commander of Kosovo Security Force
In office
16 June 2009 –22 November 2011
Kosovo stub.svg

This Kosovo biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.