Agim Ramadani

Agim Ramadani was born on 3 May 1963 in the village of Zhegër located in the Karadak Highlands{{Cite web |last=Elezi |first=Nazmi |date=2017-05-03 |title=Haziri: We are marking the great rebirth of Agim Ramadan - Telegraph |url=https://telegrafi.com/en/Haziri%2C-we-are-marking-the-great-rebirth-at-the-dawn-of-Ramadan/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |language=en}} in the municipality of Gjilan in AP Kosovo.{{Cite web |last=Qeriqi |first=Zamir |date=11 April 2022 |title=Agim Hysni Ramadani (3.5.1963 – 11.4.1999) |url=https://www.radiokosovaelire.com/agim-hysni-ramadani-3-5-1963-11-4-1999/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Radio Kosova e Lirë |language=en-US}} His family originally hails from Depce near Preševo and belongs to the Berisha tribe.{{Cite web |date=17 September 2020 |title=Порекло презимена, село Депце (Прешево) – Порекло |url=https://www.poreklo.rs/2020/09/17/poreklo-prezimena-selo-depce-presevo/ |access-date=2023-03-25 |website=www.poreklo.rs |language=sr-RS}} He studied at the higher technical school in Gnjilane in 1980, and the Military Academy for communications in Zagreb, SR Croatia.

In 1998 Ramadani left Switzerland, where his wife and three children lived,[http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts21/AH1999_1.html albanian history] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131523/http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts21/AH1999_1.html |date=2 April 2015 }} and joined the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).[http://www.lajmeonline.net/en/to-the-ta-nderojne-Agim-ramadanin/ Agim Ramadani] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101800/http://www.lajmeonline.net/en/to-the-ta-nderojne-Agim-ramadanin/ |date=2 April 2015 }} He died at the Battle of Košare.

On the outbreak of the Kosovo War, Ramadani joined the Kosovo Liberation Army, where he immediately became a commander in the Operational Zone of Dukagjin.

On 28 July 1998 Ramadani came to reinforce the defense of the villages Gjocaj and Jasiq. Yugoslav troops attacked the villages from the military outpost of Kosharë to take the two strategic points. The attack failed, resulting in three VJ soldiers as well as a VJ Major killed, while the KLA under Ramadani's command suffered three casualties.{{Cite web |title=Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana |url=https://www.botasot.info/historia-lajme/684166/veprimtaria-kombetare-e-heroit-te-kosoves-agim-ramadanit-katana/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Bota Sot |language=en}}{{better source needed|date=October 2023}}

On 9 August 1998 in the village of Oplazë (Serbian: Опљаз, romanized: Opljaz), forces under Ramadani's command successfully defeated Yugoslav forces killing 17–20 Soldiers as well as two Army officers.{{Cite web |title=The Albanian criminal Agim Ramadani (1963-1999) - www.zlocininadsrbima.com |url=http://www.zlocininadsrbima.com/EN/NewsPiece.aspx?Naslov=Agim-Ramadani |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=www.zlocininadsrbima.com}}

On 15 August 1998 Ramadani initiated "Operation Eagle," which involved attacking the Zhillovic police station.

Agim Ramadani's next operation against Yugoslav forces happened on a Yugoslav Military Outpost and Watchtower near the Gjeravica Mountain on 15 September 1998. 40 Serbian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded.{{Cite web |last=infokus |date=2020-04-09 |title=Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana |url=https://gazetainfokus.com/veprimtaria-kombetare-e-heroit-te-kosoves-agim-ramadanit-katana/ |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Infokus |language=en-US}}{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}

In his next Operation codenamed "Operation Fenix" on 30 September 1998 he attacked Yugoslav Army positions near the Košare Military Base. Again the Operation ended with a victory for Ramadani's brigade, killing 6 Yugoslav soldiers, wounding another 6, destroying 1 Tank and 1 APC.{{Cite web |last=Nikolic |first=Petrit Çollaku, Ivana |date=16 February 2016 |title=Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Await Yugoslav Army Ambush Verdict |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2016/02/16/kosovo-guerrillas-await-yugoslav-army-ambush-verdict-02-16-2016/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}

On 9 April 1999 Ramadani, together with 136 Soldiers under his command crossed the Albanian-Yugoslav border near Košare and attacked Yugoslav Forces numbering 300 Soldiers, starting the bloodiest Battle in the entire Kosovo War.{{Cite web |date=9 April 2017 |title=Rrëfimi për Kosharen |url=https://telegrafi.com/rrefimi-per-kosharen/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Telegrafi |language=sq}} The fighting on the first day lasted 24 hours and ended with a victory for Ramadani's forces, forcing the Yugoslav soldiers to retreat to the Košare base, the heavy fighting left 4 KLA soldiers and 23 Yugoslav soldiers dead.{{Cite book |last=Demaj |first=Florim |title=Me UÇK-në në Koshare : nga vija e parë të frontit dhe nëpër Kosovën e pasluftës |pages=79–80 |language=sq |quote=Rezultati i gjashtë orë luftimeve ishte nga ana jonë katër të vrarë e një të plagosur, kurse nga radhët e armikut kishte 23 të vrarë}}

The death of Agim Ramadani has been a source of speculation.{{Cite web |title=Misteri i vrasjes së Agim Ramadanit! |url=https://www.botasot.info/aktuale-lajme/1793068/misteri-i-vrasjes-se-agim-ramadanit/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Bota Sot |language=sq}} The account of his death reported by the KLA was that he had been killed in surprise attack by Serbian forces during the battle of Košare. American journalist James Ridgeway speculates that his death was connected to a string of assassinations of prominent KLA and FARK leaders that link to Hashim Thaçi.{{Cite book |last1=Udovicki |first1=Jasminka |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DHMioF8-CewC |title=Burn This House: The Making and Unmaking of Yugoslavia |last2=Ridgeway |first2=James |date=31 October 2000 |publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-8091-7 |pages=329 |language=en}} Isni Berisha, a former KLA soldier who witnessed Ramadani's death said he was killed in a surprise attack by Serbs.{{Cite web |title=Si u vra Agim Ramadani? Rrëfen për herë të parë ish-ushtari që e pa komandantin kur ra në tokë |url=https://indeksonline.net/si-u-vra-agim-ramadani-rrefen-per-here-te-pare-ish-ushtari-qe-e-pa-komandantin-kur-ra-ne-toke1/}}

In 1997, Agim Ramadani planned an attack on Dubrava Prison to free Albanian prisoners held by Yugoslavia. Ramadani insisted he needed 20 people, a truck, and a tractor for weapons. The plan was abandoned as the situation in Kosovo shifted with the attack on Prekaz. Ramadani later suspected someone had leaked their intentions after the prisoners were suddenly relocated from Dubrava.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-02 |title=Klinaku shows how Agim Ramadani planned to attack Dubrava Prison |url=https://telegrafi.com/en/the-clinic-shows-how-Agim-Ramadan-planned-to-attack-Dubrava's-prison/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Telegrafi |language=en}}

Agim Ramadani, prior to his death, had plans to fight in his home region of Karadak and had asked Ahmet Krasniqi, leader of the Armed Forces of Kosova (FARK), for permission to begin his own operations in Karadak. However, Ahmet Krasniqi refused.{{Cite web |title=Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana |url=https://www.botasot.info/historia-lajme/684166/veprimtaria-kombetare-e-heroit-te-kosoves-agim-ramadanit-katana/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Bota Sot |language=en}}

Later, just before his death during the Battle of Košare, Agim Ramadani stated: "If my fate allows me to capture Junik, I will never stay in Dukagjin again, but I will go and fight in my Karadak. However, I owe Junik because I left against my will."{{Cite web |title=Djali i Agim Ramadanit i zbulon gënjeshtrën e madhe Nasim Haradinajt |url=https://www.botasot.info/politika-lajme/1162299/djali-i-agim-ramadanit-i-zbulon-genjeshtren-e-madhe-nasim-haradinajt/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=Bota Sot |language=en}}

Agim is regarded as an Albanian hero.{{citation|access-date=2013-11-09 |url=http://news.albanianscreen.tv/pages/news_detail/50923/ENG |publisher=AS TV |title=The exhibit of a hero, Berisha: Agim Ramadani, an eminent patriot |date=14 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110060854/http://news.albanianscreen.tv/pages/news_detail/50923/ENG |archive-date=10 November 2013 }} A main street in Pristina is named after him.{{citation|url=http://kk.rks-gov.net/prishtina/News/Te-premten-mbyllet-pjeserisht-per-qarkullim-rruga-.aspx|access-date=2013-10-07|language=Albanian|publisher=Municipality of Prishtina|date=25 September 2013|title=Të premten mbyllet pjesërisht për qarkullim rruga "Agim Ramadani"|trans-title="Agim Ramadani" street will be partly closed for circulation on Friday|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222074757/http://kk.rks-gov.net/prishtina/News/Te-premten-mbyllet-pjeserisht-per-qarkullim-rruga-.aspx|archive-date=2016-02-22|url-status=dead}}

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• {{cite book|author1=John Oppenheim|author2=Willem-Jan van der Wolf|author3=Global Law Association|title=Global war crimes tribunal collection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t1c6AQAAIAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Global Law Association}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:20th-century Albanian writers

Category:Albanian nationalists in Kosovo

Category:Kosovo Liberation Army soldiers

Category:People from Gjilan

Category:Albanian-language writers

Category:Albanian male writers

Category:Albanian expatriates in Switzerland

Category:20th-century Albanian military personnel

Category:Yugoslav people of Albanian descent

Category:Albanian artists

Category:20th-century male writers