Important Dates

1945-1980

Josip Broz Tito's rule in Yugoslavia.

1980

Tito dies

1981

Student protests at Pristina UniversityStudent protests at Pristina University

1985

Martinovic incident fuels anti-Albanian sentiment.  

where a Serbian farmer in Kosovo named Martinovic claimed that he had been sexually assaulted by two Albanians. Although the claim was likely false, it was exploited by Serbian nationalists to incite anti-Albanian sentiment. This incident contributed to the growing tensions between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo during the 1980s.

1983

Death of Alexandar Rankovic.

The large public display of mourning for Rankovic emboldened Serbian hardliners within the government. They felt that the time was right to reverse Tito's policies of accommodation towards Albanians and reassert Serbian control over Kosovo.

1986

Serbian Academy of Science and Arts Memorandum made public

The Serbian Academy of Science and Arts Memorandum was a controversial document published in 1986 by a group of Serbian intellectuals. It put forth a Serbian nationalist agenda, claiming that Serbs were being discriminated against in Yugoslavia and calling for the centralization of power in Serbia. The Memorandum specifically targeted Albanians in Kosovo, portraying them as a threat to Serbian interests and advocating for their expulsion from the province.

1987

Aziz Kelmendi incident increases anti-Albanian sentiment

when an Albanian recruit in the Yugoslav People's Army named Aziz Kelmendi opened fire on his barracks in Paraćin, Serbia, killing four soldiers and wounding five others. While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, the incident was exploited by Serbian media and nationalists to further fuel anti-Albanian sentiment and portray Albanians as inherently violent and disloyal to Yugoslavia.

1987

Slobodan Milosevic becomes leader of Serbian communists.

1989

Kosovo loses autonomy, sparking protests and violence

1989

Kosovo loses autonomy, sparking protests and violence

December 14, 1995

end of bosnia war + Dayton Agreement

April 6, 1992

start of bosnia war

May 1992

Ibrahim Rugova elected president of Kosovo in an unofficial vote

1996

Formation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)

1998

Escalation of violence between KLA and Serbian forces.

1999

Racak Massacre prompts NATO intervention.

1999

Serbian forces withdraw from Kosovo

2006

UN-led talks on Kosovo's future status begin

2006

UN-led talks on Kosovo's future status begin

2008

Kosovo declares independence.

2011

EU-led talks between Kosovo and Serbia commence.

1998

Second round of elections during Serbian police actions and the rise of the KLA.

1998

Death of Adem Jashari and escalation of conflict.

June 1999

KFOR and ICTY enter Kosovo, revealing evidence of mass killings

November 10, 1999

ICTY reports over 11,000 potential victims in mass graves.

ILate september 199

KLA officially disbanded and demilitarized.

2000

First free elections in Kosovo under UN administration.  

2002

Ibrahim Rugova formally elected as president

May 24, 1999

Milosevic indicted by the international tribunal.

February 12, 2002

Milosevic's trial opens