He Lived a Short Life, but Left So Much Behind” – Altin Kryeziu Laid to Rest

Police officer Altin Kryeziu was buried today in the cemetery of the village of Bubavec, where family members, colleagues, numerous citizens, Kosovo Police leaders and representatives of state institutions gathered to bid him a final farewell.

Kryeziu died several days after being struck by a vehicle while on duty and serving to protect citizens.

Acting Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla said that Altin wore the Kosovo Police uniform with honour throughout his service. According to him, the late officer was a dedicated, professional and dignified policeman, while his death represents a major loss for his family, the Kosovo Police and the entire country.

Sveçla said that Kosovo was bidding farewell to an exemplary member of the police force, who respected and honoured the uniform he wore. He said the loss was painful for the Kryeziu family, his colleagues, fellow citizens and the Republic of Kosovo.

The minister stressed that Altin was a young man with dreams and plans whose life was unjustly and tragically cut short. Born in freedom and part of a generation that did not experience the war but inherited the responsibility of preserving freedom and the state, Kryeziu had chosen the police uniform to serve the Republic and its citizens.

According to Sveçla, Altin will be remembered for the honesty, dedication and dignity with which he carried out his duty. Although his journey was cut short far too early, he will remain an example for his colleagues and future generations.

The Kosovo Police Director General, Gazmend Hoxha, said Kryeziu tragically lost his life after being hit by a vehicle while carrying out his duties and working to ensure the safety of citizens.

Hoxha said it was difficult to find the right words in the face of the sudden end of a life filled with optimism, dedication and a sense of duty. He stressed that Altin did not simply lose his life while on duty, but was struck by a vehicle driven irresponsibly while he was looking after the lives and safety of others.

Addressing the Kryeziu family, the police director said Altin would always live in their hearts. He underlined that this loss should serve as a call for greater caution, self-control and respect for traffic laws.

Hoxha said the family had not experienced this pain alone, as the Kosovo Police had also suffered the loss. He guaranteed that the institution would stand by the family in every need and that the grief and pride would be shared together.

According to him, around 3,214 people have died in traffic accidents in Kosovo since the end of the war. Meanwhile, the Kosovo Police has lost 33 members in accidents, 10 of them in cases similar to Altin’s, while on duty.

The Police Director General called on all drivers and road users to exercise caution. He said cars were created to make people’s lives easier, not to kill them, calling for them not to be turned into weapons and instruments of death. Hoxha stressed that Kosovo has no young people to lose and that caution in traffic is essential.

The Mayor of Malisheva Municipality, Ekrem Kastrati, described Altin as a young man who had chosen to serve his country and its citizens.

Kastrati said that the spirit of public service was present in the Kryeziu family. He recalled that Altin was the son of Elmi, who had served for years and continued to serve as a member of the Kosovo Police.

According to the Mayor of Malisheva, it is extremely difficult to find the right words in the face of a father’s pain at losing his son. He said that for a parent there is no greater pride than seeing their child serve their country, but also no greater pain than losing them at a young age.

On behalf of the family, Metije Kryeziu spoke through tears about Altin, describing him as a beloved, smiling, polite and respectful child from an early age.

She said Altin loved his country and came from a patriotic family that had given Kosovo its contribution and sacrifice. His father had been a member of the KLA during the Kosovo Liberation War and, after the war, was among the first members of the Kosovo Police.

Metije Kryeziu said that this legacy, together with love for his country and service to it, had accompanied Altin as he grew up. When he put on the police uniform, it represented not only a profession for him, but also honour, responsibility and a family legacy.

According to her, Altin carried this legacy with pride until his final day. He wore the uniform with dignity and served citizens with dedication and devotion, losing his life on duty for Kosovo and its citizens. The family, she said, will always be proud of him, even in its greatest pain.

Altin Kryeziu died after seven days as a result of injuries he sustained while on duty in an accident that occurred in Malisheva.