On the 27th anniversary of Bahri Fazliu’s death, family members, comrades, and state leaders paid tribute at his grave, honoring him as a significant figure in the liberation of the country, KosovaPress reports.
The acting Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, laid wreaths at Bahri Fazliu’s grave, describing him as a model of a liberation fighter even before the armed conflict.
“Even today, on the 27th anniversary of Bahri Fazliu’s heroic fall, we pay tribute together, because Bahri Fazliu is an example of a freedom fighter even before the liberation war. We had many activists who prepared the war, and among the most prominent was Bahri Fazliu, who went by the pseudonym Gzimi. His analytical writings, romantic poetry, boundless patriotism, and the actions and battles he participated in undoubtedly make him a living example not only for our generation but also for those to come — of how to love the homeland, work for liberation, and fight for unification,” Kurti emphasized.
Leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, also paid tribute, saying the Fazliu family is a core of Kosovo’s freedom.
“A core of our freedom, of national liberation, stems from the Fazliu family — not only from Fahri and Bahri whom we remember today, but also from their broader connections to freedom with other families and the Zhitia family, and all other movements of that time. Bahri’s act of falling for freedom at the border triangle, which unjustly divides us, is the strongest message of liberty conveyed by this family,” he said.
Bahri Fazliu’s nephew, Fahri Fazliu, also remembered his uncle, saying the day is more painful since his father, Fahri Fazliu, is currently unjustly detained in The Hague.
“Today marks 27 years since the heroic fall of my uncle. It is a more painful day for us and the family because my father, who is currently unjustly in The Hague, is absent after 27 years of being present at every anniversary. We remember Bahri only through his poetry, which he left behind: ‘Even death I will kiss, when the war calls; from the grave I will rise, and I will never stop fighting,’” he said.
Bahri Fazliu was also honored today by his comrades and fellow fighters.
The mayor of Rahovec, Smajl Latifi, a close friend of Fazliu, described him as an intelligent and well-prepared young man — both morally and politically.
“He was a smart young man, morally and politically prepared, a proven patriot, a distinguished leader, an ideologue, and a good teacher — not only to me but to many in my generation. He was and remains a guide on how to walk, how to work, how to fight, and how to die for freedom. His fall on May 7, 1998, at the border triangle dividing Albanians — Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania — is an irreplaceable loss for the liberation movement and national cause for Kosovo’s freedom,” Latifi said.
The leader of the Movement for Unification, Valon Murati, stated that Bahri Fazliu was a central figure in the Albanian people’s struggle for freedom.
“Today we remember one of the central figures in our struggle for freedom. On this day 27 years ago, he fell in battle against Serbian forces. His entire life was devoted to the freedom of Kosovo,” he emphasized.
Bahri Fazliu heroically fell on May 7, 1998, in a place called Bogiqe in Montenegro. He was a member of the National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo (LKÇK) and a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK). For several years, he lived in secrecy and served as the editor-in-chief of the magazine Çlirimi, published by the LKÇK. Bahri was the brother of hero Fahri Fazliu, who, along with Afrim Zhitia, died heroically on November 2, 1989, during a battle with Serbian police in the Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill) neighborhood in Pristina.
