Studime, Vushtrri, May 2, 2025
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, along with members of the government cabinet and deputies of the Assembly, took part in the Memorial Academy marking the 26th anniversary of the Studime Massacre. The academy was held near the cemetery of the fallen martyrs of this village.
On the evening of May 2, 1999, within two hours, 116 unarmed Albanian civilians were brutally murdered by the police and military forces of the Milošević regime, who spared no one—men and women, the elderly and children—from most of the villages of the Shala region and around Vushtrri. In the morning, women and children were deported to Albania, while the men were taken to the infamous Smrekonica prison, where they endured inhumane treatment, beatings, and torture.
“The genocidal strategy of Serbia, known as ‘Horseshoe’, through which Kosovo was being ethnically cleansed of Albanians, was a dark plan that also included smaller ‘horseshoes.’ One of them was here in Vushtrri. Villages were encircled, residents were violently expelled from their homes, and their property was looted,” said Prime Minister Kurti in his speech.
During these tributes, the Prime Minister expressed his deep gratitude to all those who keep alive the memory of the war and who have testified to these crimes at the Hague Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, EULEX, and the Special Prosecution of Kosovo against Serbian criminals.
“Crimes against humanity do not expire. They are not forgotten. They are not forgiven. Only through justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators will families find peace and sustainable peace be established,” he said.
He further added that the suffering endured by our people can never be erased from our collective memory, and those who fell for freedom will never be forgotten.
“We remember today and always all those who sacrificed so that we can live free in the Republic of Kosovo. Eternal be the memory of the martyrs of Studime!” concluded Prime Minister Kurti.
Full speech of Prime Minister Kurti:
Dear Minister of Justice, Ms. Albulena Haxhiu,
Honorable Mayor of Vushtrri, Mr. Ferit Idrizi,
Honorable Mayor of North Mitrovica, Mr. Erden Atiq,
Honorable Members of the Assembly of the Republic,
Honorable Chairman of AAK, Mr. Haradinaj,
Respected generals of our army, officers and soldiers, police of the Kosovo Police,
Respected leaders and representatives of various state and local institutions,
Respected families of the fallen and martyrs of the nation,
Dear war veterans and invalids of the Kosovo Liberation Army,
Dear attendees,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sisters and brothers,
Many of you have lived through the horrors of war and still carry fresh painful memories from 1999. In April of that year, residents of villages in Vushtrri and surrounding areas were being expelled from their homes and sought safer places. They hoped to survive by sheltering in the areas around Studime until May.
Serbia’s genocidal strategy, called “Horseshoe,” through which Kosovo was being ethnically cleansed of Albanians, was a dark plan that also included smaller “horseshoes.” One of them was here, in Vushtrri. The villages were encircled, people were forcibly expelled from their homes, and their possessions were looted.
The police and military forces of the Milošević regime set fire to surrounding villages and reached Upper Studime. On the evening of May 2, 1999, Serbian criminal forces began systematic terror against the Albanian civilian population, which was moving in a column from Lower Studime to Upper Studime. Within two hours, 116 Albanians were brutally killed—men and women, the elderly and children—from most of the villages of Shala and the Vushtrri region. In the morning, women and children were expelled to Albania, while the men were taken to the infamous Smrekonica prison, where they suffered inhumane treatment, beatings, and torture. The Serbian military had attempted to return to collect the bodies of the dead, but thanks to the Kosovo Liberation Army, they failed. Together with the surviving villagers in the mountains, the fallen were buried over the course of three days.
Therefore, today, along with honoring the fallen martyrs, we also honor the resilience of the living. All of you who survived, who defied death, who still bear the wounds of freedom on your bodies and in your souls, are living testimony to the strength of our people.
We are deeply grateful to you for also keeping alive the memory of the war and for having testified to these crimes at the Hague Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, EULEX, and the Special Prosecution of Kosovo against Serbian criminals.
Crimes against humanity do not expire. They are not forgotten. They are not forgiven. Only with justice for the victims and punishment for the perpetrators will the families find peace and peace become sustainable.
Dear sisters and brothers,
Respected mothers,
Our people have shown extraordinary strength by rebuilding life after the destruction of war. Children are growing up today in a free Kosovo, dreaming without fear for their future. Together with the new generations, we are preserving this freedom with social, national, civic, and institutional commitment. We honor the memory of the martyrs by working toward a stronger and more advanced Kosovo.
The suffering endured by our people can never be erased from our collective memory. Meanwhile, those who fell for freedom will never be forgotten.
We remember today and forever all those who sacrificed so that we can live free in the Republic of Kosovo. Eternal be the memory of the martyrs of Studime!
Glory!
Last modified: May 5, 2025