DUI protests again in Tetovo: “History cannot be repealed” and “Even the streets speak Albanian”

In Tetovo, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) again organized a protest today against the Constitutional Court’s decision, which annulled the Albanian-language names of the city’s streets and squares.

The protesters’ march began at Iliria Square and ended in front of the Tetovo Municipality building. Banners were placed there with the slogans “Even the streets speak Albanian” and “History cannot be repealed,” while participants also demanded the resignation of the Mayor of Tetovo Municipality, Bilall Kasami.

Before the protest began, the head of DUI’s branch in Tetovo, Bajram Rexhepi, said that Tetovo Municipality had obstructed citizens from taking part in this second protest.

According to Rexhepi, their further actions will depend on how Tetovo Municipality responds regarding this issue.

“You see a mountain of people showing their anger over the return of the old street names in Tetovo Municipality. What has surprised us is how Tetovo Municipality is trying to prevent citizens from participating in the protest. We notified the police about the protest. But also the diplomatic corps in Skopje, who are monitoring the protest. The protests will continue, and they depend on the reflection that Tetovo Municipality will show,” Rexhepi said.

This marks the second protest organized by DUI in Tetovo to oppose the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove the names of the streets and squares.

A few days earlier, the Constitutional Court annulled Tetovo Municipality’s 2007 decision to rename the streets and squares, on the grounds that government approval had not been obtained for it.