Saime Isufi reveals what happened on the night Kadri Zeka and the Gërvalla brothers were killed

On January 17, 1982, the same night Kadri Zeka, Jusuf Gërvalla and Bardhosh Gërvalla were killed in Germany, the Albanian underground organizations also united. Saime Isufi says this development came after a long period of cooperation and efforts to formalize the rapprochement between them.

During an interview on RTV Dukagjini’s “Dosje” program, hosted by Debat Plus moderator Ermal Panduri, Isufi spoke about the ties between Kadri Zeka and the Gërvalla brothers. She also discussed the organization of the 1981 demonstrations in Europe and the platform drawn up to unite the Albanian organizations.

She said that she first learned about Jusuf and Bardhosh Gërvalla’s activities while studying in Pristina. Isufi recalled that after Jusuf Gërvalla left Kosovo in 1979, students spoke about the departure of a well-known poet and journalist.

She said that during that period she had heard about Jusuf Gërvalla and the publication of “The Herald of Freedom,” but had no other information about his activities.

Isufi said she gained a fuller picture of Jusuf Gërvalla’s involvement later, after moving to Switzerland and having the opportunity to observe at close hand his communication and cooperation with Kadri Zeka.

Isufi said she had met Jusuf and Bardhosh Gërvalla personally. She recalled that, together with Kadri Zeka, they had traveled to Germany to take part in an event dedicated to November 28.

According to her account, the November 28 celebration was held in a hall in Germany, where Albanian compatriots had gathered. Kadri Zeka and Jusuf Gërvalla delivered speeches and later answered questions from those in attendance.

Describing Kadri Zeka’s relationship with the Gërvalla brothers, Isufi said it was not only very good, but also closer than fraternal ties.

According to her, their coordination became particularly intense after the spring 1981 demonstrations in Kosovo. Kadri Zeka, Jusuf and Bardhosh Gërvalla, together with other activists, were involved in organizing protests by the Albanian diaspora in various European countries.

Isufi singled out the demonstration held on April 11, 1981, in Bern, Switzerland, attended by Albanian compatriots, as one of the important moments of that period.

She attributed the initiative for organizing the 1981 demonstrations to Kadri Zeka, adding that Jusuf Gërvalla and Ibrahim Kelmendi had cooperated in the organizational process and in decision-making.

In support of the demands of Albanians in Kosovo, a total of ten demonstrations were held in Europe during 1981, Isufi said.

The interview also addressed the theses of the “People’s Front for the Republic of Kosovo,” prepared in May 1981. According to Isufi, this document was intended as a platform to bring closer and unite the Albanian organizations operating underground.

She explained that the spring 1981 demonstrations brought to light a large number of activists and organizations, who began seeking contact with one another. In these circumstances, the need emerged for a common platform that would make it possible to unite the organizations.

According to Isufi, the platform was prepared by the Steering Committee of the Marxist-Leninist Organization of Kosovo, OMLK. Kadri Zeka and Mehmet Hajrizi contributed to its drafting, as both were members of the committee.

Isufi emphasized that Kadri Zeka and Mehmet Hajrizi were among the document’s drafters precisely because of their roles on the Steering Committee.

After it was prepared, the theses were sent to Switzerland, where Kadri Zeka used them in efforts to unite the organizations.

Asked whether the platform had been accepted by Jusuf Gërvalla, Isufi answered in the affirmative. She explained that concrete cooperation between them had already been established and that all that remained was for the union to be formalized through a written document.

According to her, the only unresolved issue was formalization in writing, since in practice they were already acting as a united group.

Isufi said that the formalization of the organizations’ union took place on January 17, 1982—precisely that night.

When Ermal Panduri asked her to confirm whether she meant the same night on which Kadri Zeka and the Gërvalla brothers were killed, she answered in the affirmative.

In her account, Saime Isufi also spoke about how the OMLK was organized. She said that the organization had operated underground for a long time and had established cells in the West as well. According to her, the changes to the organization’s name over the years were also used as a strategy to evade persecution by the Yugoslav authorities.