Free Albin Kurti Now!

"I do not recognize this court, I can only be tried by a court of my people. I do not recognize this court just as I do not recognize Serbia nor Yugoslavia. This court is in the service of the day-to-day politics of the fascist regime of Slobodan Milosevic," declared Albin in his hearing in the district court of Nis, Serbia. He has refused a lawyer, aware of the fact that he will not receive a fair trial. "I don't care how long you sentence me," he defiantly told the judge.

Albin Kurti beaten by Serb guardians after sentencing

Prishtina, March 19 (Kosovapress) - A former inmate of the Pozharevac prison said that Albin Kurti was severely beaten after receiving his sentence. [more]

Albin Kurti sentenced to 15 years imprisonment

NISH, March 13 - The District Court of Nish today sentenced Albanian student leader Albin Kurti to 15 years imprisonment, on charges of criminal acts against the territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia and involvement in subversive terrorist activity. [more]

Kosova Albanian student leader jailed for 15 years
(Reuters, March 13, 2000)
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (Reuters) - A district court in southern Serbia sentenced a Kosova Albanian student leader to 15 years in prison on terrorism charges Monday, an agency reported. [more]

Kosova Student Leader Gets 15 Years
(AP, March 13, 2000)
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- A former spokesman for Kosova's disbanded rebel organization was sentenced Monday to 15 years in prison after being convicted on charges of terrorism and conspiracy against the state, a law center said. [more]

Albin Kurti is tried in Nis district court
(Reuters, March 9)
NIS, Yugoslavia - A Kosova Albanian student leader spat defiance on Thursday at the Serbian court where he is being tried for terrorism, saying he recognised neither Serbia nor Yugoslavia. [more]

News of Albin Kurti's disappearance (April 1999)

Albin Kurti was born on March 24, 1975, in Prishtina, Kosova. He finished primary school (1981-1989) and high school (1989-1993) in Prishtina with

excellent success. In the academic year of 1993/94, he began his studies at the Electrical Faculty of the University of Prishtina. He was an eminent (honors) student.

In August 1997, he became involved in the Students Independent Union of the University of Prishtina (SIUUP) as a member of the presidency. He was the international officer. Albin was also a member of the Organizing Board (at University level) of the students' peaceful protests for the release of University's buildings, which were then held by Serb professors and students. This Board organized four student peaceful protests (1 October 1997, 29 October 1999, 30 December 1997 and 13 March 1998).

During this time, he was invited to meetings in Washington, New York, Brussels, Copenhagen, and the European Parliament in Strasbourg with the purpose of informing the international community about Albanian students' legitimate demands.

He also met with numerous highly placed individuals in international politics, including: Robin Cook (foreign minister of UK), Klaus Kinkel (ex-foreign minister of Germany), Hubert Vedrine (foreign minister of France), Robert Gelbard (special envoy of President Clinton for the Balkans), and with all the ambassadors and embassy representatives of western countries present in Belgrade.

In August 1998, Albin began working in the office of the General Political Representative (GPR) of UÇK, Adem Demaçi, where he served as a translator.

In early March 1999, he quit all activities at SIUUP and at the office of GPR of UÇK in order to continue his university studies.

See these links for more information:
Newsweek: Where is Albin Kurti?
Background on Albin Kurti's political activities (W. Plarre)
An article by Albin on the student movement in Kosova (in Albanian)
Biography of Albin Kurti
Interview with Albin Kurti (November 1997)
"The Forgotten Albanians" by Laura Rozen (IWPR)
Pacifica Radio News interview with Albin Kurti (March 1998)
Time Magazine article referring to Albin Kurti's first arrest (October 1997)
Illyria: US Backs Kosova Students (November 3, 1998)
Irish Times: Albanian students get more radical (June 18, 1998)
Christian Science Monitor: Kosovo Peaceniks Hear Call: 'Guerrilla Army Needs You' (June 24, 1998)

After the Night
by Fred Abrahams

Of all the coffees one has in the Balkans, some stick in the memory, floating above the haze of sugar and smoke.

Such is my 1997 conversation with Xhevat, a former political prisoner from Kosovo. The meeting took place in Tetovo, but the talk was of Prishtina. [click here to read more]

Albin being taken in by Serbian security personnel in October 1997, as he stood at the healm of peaceful demonstrators in Prishtina. This was Albin's first arrest.

During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Albin remained in Prishtina until April 27, 1999, when Serbian police arrested him.

From April 27 until May 1, Albin was held in Prishtina prison. On May 2, he was transferred to Lipjan prison where he was held until June 10. During this time, he was barbarously tortured for being a "terrorist". He was accused of meeting with Richard Holbrooke (in fact, Albin had never met him) and of meeting with Christopher Hill.

On June 10, after the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosova, Albin and thousands of other Albanian prisoners were transferred from the prison in Lipjan, Kosova, to prisons in Serbia. His family had no information about his whereabaouts. On July 12, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) informed the family that Albin Kurti was being held in Pozarevac prison. On July 27, 1999, the family was informed by Franklin De Vrieze (Pax Christi Vlaanderen) about his visit to Pozarevac prison where he met with Albin. After this, during September and October, the family received two letters from Albin. The first letter was written September 13 and received on September 30. The second letter was written September 22 and received on October 18. Both letters were communicated through ICRC.

1. Contact your government representatives and tell them: "You forgot something! At least 2,000 Albanian political prisoners and POWs are in Serbian prisons. Among them is student leader Albin Kurti. Immediately pressure the regime of Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to release all prisoners. Require the Serbian opposition to speak out on the issue of Kosovar Albanian prisoners in Serbia."

2. Sign the Petition for the Release of Kosovar Prisoners in Serbia.

3. See the home page of the Association of Political Prisoners of Kosova and support their cause.