Çollaku claims a statement calling for Rugova’s execution was read on Albanian State Television

Former diplomat and Kosovo political analyst Sami Çollaku has made claims about the role of the official Albanian authorities during the war in Kosovo and about relations between the political and military structures of that period.

Speaking to NTV, Çollaku said that during the war, a statement had been read on Albanian state television, TVSH, describing Ibrahim Rugova as a “traitor.” According to him, the statement said that “the people of Kosovo have sentenced Rugova to death” and that the sentence would be carried out in the name of the KLA.

Çollaku presented the broadcast of this statement by a state media outlet as evidence supporting his claim that the official authorities in Tirana at the time had played a role in what he described as a war to seize power in Kosovo.

He also spoke about Rugova’s security in Albania. According to Çollaku, the former president of Kosovo could not land at Rinas Airport because there were no guarantees for his life.

Explaining his theory about a “special war” against the LDK in Kosovo, Çollaku said that “these four,” as well as other individuals and KLA groups linked to Tirana, had been used as weapons. According to him, the political direction of this activity was based in Tirana.

Çollaku also linked this claim to the LPK and the political legacy of the Enver Hoxha era in Albania. He said that the way political organization was conducted and rivals were treated during that period had influenced the formation of certain political and military structures.

According to him, the approach of the Communist Party and Enver Hoxha toward the liberation war against the aggressor also included the aim of securing future power by eliminating political opponents. Çollaku said that the same methodology had been followed in the developments he was discussing, while describing some of the cadres involved as “victims of this political mindset.”