Conflict in the Preshevskaya Valley

In June 1999, the headquarters of AOMPB was created in the Bujanovac community in the village of Dobrosin ^[10] . The initial number of gangs was about 800 fighters ^[3] .

The Albanian militants of the "Liberation Army of Preshev, Medvedzhi and Buyanovac" fought for the separation of these territories from Yugoslavia. The escalation took place in the 5-km “land security zone” created in 1999 in the territory of Yugoslavia following the results of the NATO War against Yugoslavia in accordance with the Kumanovsky military-technical agreement . By agreement, the Yugoslav side did not have the right to keep armed groups in the NZB, except for the local police, which were allowed to have only small arms.

Many AOPMB members were previously members of the AOK ^[11] .

The peak of activity of the “Liberation Army of Preshev, Medvedzhi and Buyanovac” occurred in 2001 , coinciding with the conflict in Macedonia ^{[12] [13]} .

The situation in southern Yugoslavia stabilized after reaching an agreement between Belgrade and NATO in May 2001 to return the contingent of Yugoslav troops to the "land security zone." Arrangements were also reached on an amnesty for surrendered militants, the formation of a multinational police force, and the integration of the local population in public structures ^[14] .

Timeline

• On November 21 and 22, 2000, in the Bujanovac community near the village of Luchane , Three policemen were killed and five wounded by sniper fire of Albanian militants ^[15] . After that, the Ministry of Internal Affairs began a counter-terrorist operation ^[16] . By November 28, four policemen were killed and more than 10 people were injured ^[17] .
• On December 11, 2000, according to the Kosovo newspaper Koha Ditore , In Kosovo near the border with the Presevo community, KFOR fighters arrested an armed militant of the AOPMB. He was subsequently imprisoned at Bondstyle Camp.
• On the night of December 30–31, 2000, in the Presevo community on the Presevo highway - Gnilane, AOPMB fighters took six people of Serbian nationality hostage . Subsequently, all of them were released through the mediation of KFOR and the president of the FRY ^[15] .
• February 18, 2001:
  • In the Bujanovac community, near the village of Luciane patrol car blew up on an anti-tank mine. Three policemen, that is, everyone in the car, died ^[18] .
  • In the Bujanovac community, Albanian militants fired from an ambush at a police car with mortars and small arms. The Serbs returned fire. According to some reports, there were losses among the militants ^[19] .
  • In the Vran community, Albanian militants attacked a police post on Mount Elijah (1247 m) ^[19] .
• March 10, 2001 it became known about the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement between NATO and AOPSB ^[20] .
• On March 25, 2001, the NEWSru.com news agency reported that AOPMB militants had infiltrated Macedonia from the territory of Yugoslavia and began military operations against government forces ^[21] .
• On March 29, 2001, in the Presevo community near the village of Cherevajka Albanian militants fired from a mortar at a post where three police officers were stationed. There are no victims ^[22] .
• On April 11, 2001, Albanian militants fired on KFOR fighters on the Kosovo-Yugoslav border. As a result, the Russian peacekeeper Mikhail Shuytsev was killed ^[23]
• On May 12, 2001, Albanian militants fired mortar shells at three villages in the Presevo community. At least 100 minutes were released. The Serbs did not open return fire ^[24] .
• On May 13, 2001, shelling from mortars and machine guns by Albanian militants of the Yugoslav troops continued ^[25] .
• On May 12 - 13, 2001, Albanian militants captured the village of Arovach.
• On the morning of May 14, 2001, Serbian forces launched an assault on the village of Arovac. Several militants were killed and three Serbian military personnel were injured ^[26] .
• On May 15-16, 2001, fierce battles were fought in the Presevo community for the village of Oraevitsa . As a result, 14 Albanian militants were killed ^[27] .
• On May 16, 2001, 80 Albanian militants who fought in Orajewice crossed the Kosovo-Yugoslav border and surrendered voluntarily to KFOR ^[27] .
• On May 21, 2001, while trying to illegally cross the Kosovo-Yugoslav border, KFOR fighters arrested field commander Mukhamet Dzhemaili ^[28] .
• On May 24, 2001, Operation Bravo began ^[1] .
• On June 1, 2001, Operation Bravo was completed ^[29] .

According to the NEWSru.com news agency, during the confrontation between AOPMB and FRY, 68 people died, including 14 policemen ^[7] .

Novitsa Zdravkovich, the head of the police in the Pchinsky district , said that during 2000, 313 attacks were carried out by Albanian militants, in which 24 people died, including 8 police officers, 7 terrorists and 9 civilians. Also during this year 14 people were abducted , 9 of them were released, the fate of 4 remained unknown ^[15] .

After the dissolution of AOPMB, the situation in the region became calmer. However, some of the militants continued their provocative activities as part of the Albanian National Army .

• Conflict in Macedonia (2001)
• Riots in Kosovo (2004)

• Partos, Gabriel . Presevo valley tension , BBC News Online (February 2, 2001). Date of treatment January 26, 2008.