The Albanian-American community recently staged a significant protest in New York City, voicing their opposition to the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the United Nations General Assembly. The protest, organized by several members of the diaspora, including prominent activists and organizations, aimed to draw attention to Serbia’s unresolved war crimes from the Kosovo conflict and the perceived lack of justice for the victims.
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| A van in a New York street displaying a large banner showing photos of Vucic and Milosevic and reading "Vucic = Milosevic 2.0" and on the right some people at a funeral ceremony who are supposed to be victims of these two |
One of the key figures leading this protest was Harry Bajraktari, a well-known Albanian activist in the United States. Through a post on his Twitter account, Bajraktari shared a video showing a truck driving through the streets of New York, equipped with a large digital screen. This screen displayed powerful messages condemning Vučić’s role in Serbia’s war-time actions, as well as highlighting the atrocities committed during the Kosovo War. Messages such as “Vučić = Milošević 2.0,” “Justice for the Bytyqi Brothers,” “Unpunished war crimes: 13,950 killed, 20,000 raped, and 1,600 missing,” and “Serbia has blood on its hands, stop defending criminals” were visible, echoing the calls for accountability and justice.
The protest comes at a time when tensions surrounding the legacy of the Kosovo War remain high. The conflict, which took place from 1998 to 1999, resulted in widespread atrocities against the ethnic Albanian population in Kosovo, including mass killings, rapes, and forced displacements. Though Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Serbia has not fully acknowledged its sovereignty, and many of the crimes committed during the war remain unpunished. The protesters in New York underscored these unresolved issues, particularly the lack of justice for the thousands of victims.
Yesterday, the Albanian-American community welcomed the war criminal & rapist protector Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the UN General Assembly in NYC with a clear message
— Harry Bajraktari (@HarryBajraktari) September 25, 2024
*“Rape used as a weapon of war#JusticeforKosova #Justicedelayedisjusticedenied 🇽🇰🇽🇰 pic.twitter.com/fJt5oHi7Us
A recurring demand from the Albanian-American community is justice for the Bytyqi brothers, three Albanian-American brothers who were executed in Serbia after the war. The Bytyqi brothers—Ylli, Agron, and Mehmet—were arrested by Serbian police in 1999 while helping to transport ethnic Albanian refugees. Despite orders for their release, they were taken to a police training center and executed. Their bodies were discovered years later in a mass grave, and despite various calls for accountability, no senior Serbian officials have been held responsible for their deaths. The case has become a symbol of the broader failure to prosecute Serbian war criminals, and the protesters in New York used the opportunity to reiterate their demands for justice.
The protest also sought to shed light on Vučić's political career and his connections to the regime of Slobodan Milošević, the Serbian leader responsible for many of the atrocities during the Yugoslav Wars. Vučić, who served as Minister of Information under Milošević, has been criticized for his role in promoting nationalist rhetoric and supporting policies that led to war crimes during the 1990s. The message "Vučić = Milošević 2.0" was a direct critique of what many perceive as Vučić’s continued unwillingness to fully confront Serbia’s war-time legacy, as well as his government's failure to prosecute those responsible for war crimes.
In addition to protesting against Vučić's attendance at the UN General Assembly, the Albanian-American community used the platform to advocate for international pressure on Serbia. The protesters called on the global community to demand accountability for the atrocities committed during the Kosovo War and to push Serbia to address its unresolved war crimes. They also emphasized the need for the United States, as a key player in the Balkans during the conflict, to take a stronger stance in advocating for justice.
The protest was part of a broader effort by the Albanian diaspora to keep the memory of the Kosovo War alive and to ensure that the victims of the conflict are not forgotten. Many Albanian-Americans have personal connections to the war, either through family members who were directly affected or as refugees who fled the violence. Their involvement in the protest highlights the deep emotional and political ties the diaspora maintains with the homeland, as well as their determination to seek justice for the victims.
Despite Serbia's ongoing efforts to move past its war-time history and integrate into the European Union, protests like the one in New York serve as a reminder that the legacy of the Yugoslav Wars continues to cast a long shadow over the region. For the Albanian-American community, the fight for justice is far from over, and they remain committed to ensuring that those responsible for war crimes are held accountable.
As Vučić continues to play a central role in Serbian politics, international attention on his past and his government’s handling of war crimes will likely remain a focal point for diaspora communities and human rights advocates alike. The protest in New York was not just a demonstration against Vučić, but a broader call for justice, accountability, and the long-overdue recognition of the suffering endured by the people of Kosovo during the war.